In 1952, he met his future wife, Clara May “Sally” McConnell, while working with a wheat harvesting crew in Nebraska.They married June 23, 1954. Jerry served three years in the U.S. Army, including one year in Korea.

He then served as a minister and Bible teacher, supporting his family through outside employment, a pattern he valued throughout his life, serving churches in Washington, Nebraska, Iowa, and Ontario, Canada, retiring in 1995. He and Sally spent their retirement years in Arizona, Colorado, and Virginia.

Jerry was devoted to his family and is survived by his six children, Jeffrey (Valerie), Curtis (Xiaohui), Jonathan, Melinda, Clark (Linda), and Eric; 20 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

The funeral will be Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Rockland Community Church, 2921 Rockland Road, Front Royal,VA, 22630. In lieu of flowers, a card with a simple note of encouragement to Sally %Rockland Community would mean the most to the family.