Upsilon Heritage: Chef Jerry Hughen

DECLO, Id. – Jerry Hughen, Upsilon’s chef from 1985 to 1990, died on Oct. 14 from pancreatic cancer, peacefully and surrounded by his family.

Jerry moved to Idaho with his new wife, Rachel Hernandez, whom he met while living in Santa Barbara in the early 1990s. They had a new son, Jesse, to accompany Jerry’s two children, Matt and John, from his previous marriage. Rachel was divorced when they met, and Jerry was a light of inspiration.

“One of the reasons I married him was because he made me laugh. I was recovering from a divorce, and didn’t have a lot to laugh about.”

Rachel brought her two daughters to the new Brady Bunch-style marriage, and Jerry was happy to have an instant family with Rachel. “They were his princesses,” Rachel said.

After leaving Upsilon, Jerry worked for various restaurants and for the school district in Santa Barbara. They decided to move to Idaho in 1996 because of the expense of living in Santa Barbara, and things like the Los Angeles riots. After a vacation to Idaho, they liked the slower, closer “Beaver Cleaver” lifestyle of the small town. Jerry’s outgoing and upbeat personality helped them to acclimate to the new community, and he got a new job “within hours” cooking at a restaurant in Twin Falls.

In Declo, Jerry was active with his church and played in a Christian contemporary / country gospel band at county and state fairs in BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ). Jerry had learned the guitar and played in a trio in Denver during his youth, and he revived his music skills. His friends and family best remember his love of music, which started in high school and continued to grow into the music ministry that he loved so much and shared with his wife, Rachel. >From playing for the local assisted living and long-term care patients, to his band, he reached people at fairs and events throughout southern Idaho, including Declo Days.

With his new life with a focus on his church, Jerry remained fond of his days at UCLA and told his family stories of luaus and the brotherhood and a bit of “Animal House”. “He told us stories about the fraternity parties, and freezing vegetables for ammo to shoot at other houses in slingshots,” Rachel said.

Jerry was born May 4, 1948, in Dyess, Ark., to George and Lela Hughen.  He grew up in Grand Junction, Colo., and graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1966. He served in the U.S.Air Force as a military policeman in North Africa and Southeast Asia from 1966 until 1972.  Jerry is survived by his
wife, Rachel; his three sons,George, age 10; Jesse Hughen of Denver, Colo.; and John Audin of Clifton, Colo.; his grandson, Devyn, age 14; two stepdaughters, Sarah Warren of Rupert and Nadine VIramontes, of Concord, Calif.; two sisters, Nancy Koch of Twin Falls and Janet Vulk of Seattle,
Wash.; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  Contributions may be made to Compassion International (compassion.com) in Jerry’s honor. His family can be contacted at 103 1st St. East, Declo, ID 83323 or(208) 654-4078.