Jerry L. Wiersma, Sr.'s Obituary
Mr. Jerry L. Wiersma, Sr. age 76, passed away at his home Friday morning, March 13, 2009, following a 9 year battle with Cancer. Jerry was born October 5, 1932 in Muskegon to Edwin and Clara (Olson) Wiersma and had been a life resident of the area. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and a 1972 graduate of Western Michigan University. Jerry retired in 1991 as the director of Human Resources for Consumer’s Power Co. where he had been employed over 30 years. In 1992 he became the co-owner of West Michigan Power Cleaning Systems, Inc. with his son, Jerry, Jr. Professionally, Jerry was known for his fairness and personally for his quick-wit. He will be sadly missed. Jerry belonged to the Jaycees, Lion’s Club, Muskegon Rotary and was a honorary life member of Muskegon Elk’s Lodge #274 where he served as Exalted Ruler three times. In 1978, as Exalted Ruler, Jerry’s team won the National Ritual Competition in San Diego, which nay-sayers said could’t be done by such a small lodge. With others, he was instrumental in establishing the Muskegon Elk’s Park Campground, where he and others tirelessly cleared trees and worked to attain funding for the now thriving campground. For many years Jerry was in charge of the annual Jaycees “Exhausted Rooster Stag.” Jerry started serving the City of Norton Shores on its Zoning Board and Planning Commission before he began his 18 year tenure on the Norton Shores City Council. He has served Norton Shores as its Mayor since 2005. In his free time, Jerry enjoyed volunteering, cars, planes and Jazz Music. On October 8, 1955, he married the former Lois Ann Kuziak and became her loving caregiver the past 10 years after she was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis and a debilitating stroke. SURVIVORS include his wife, Lois; 5 children, Cheryl (David) Gaudette of Montague, Tom Wiersma of Rothbury, Joy Wiersma of Spring Lake, Patricia (Forrest “Butch”) Stoevsand and Jerry (Janelle) Wiersma, Jr. of Norton Shores; 9 grandchildren, Justin, Jennifer, Kevin, Matthew, Zach, Kyle, Scott, Carly and Natalie; 1 sister, Joyce (Dr. Kenneth) Johnson of North Muskegon, 1 brother, Jack (Olga) Wiersma of Norton Shores and his sister-in-law, Maxine Wiersma of Roosevelt Park. Lois and her family give special thanks to caregiver and family friend, Marge Dickerson, who was an absolute blessing to the entire family during Jerry’s final days. He was preceded in death by his siblings; Phyllis Tourre, Roger, Shirley Bailey and Marjorie Horness. SERVICES will be 11 AM Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc., 6291 S. Harvey Street, Norton Shores, MI 49441 (231-798-1100)with Pastor Don Mathews officiating. Burial will be in Norton Cemetery. VISITATION with Jerry’s family will be 2-4 & 6-8PM Tuesday with an Elk’s Lodge of Sorrows service beginning at 6PM. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS to the Elk’s Major Projects Fund benefitting handicapped children will be appreciated.
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