Gerald "Jerry" Robert Chisholm

Gerald Robert Chisholm was born to Doreen Mary Louise Wagner and Robert Steele Chisholm on March 11, 1951 in Calgary, Alberta. Gerald Robert was known most commonly as Jerry, that’s Jerry with a “J”! He was the first born of three children and the nephew to a handsome handful of aunts and uncles as his mom, Doreen, was one of seven and his dad, Robert, was one of nine.

Jerry is survived by three of his four children; Christa (Len), Riley, and Audrey (Shawn); his brother, Ken (and Janet) and his sister, Brenda (and Kevin); his confidant, Connie; one paternal Aunt, Margaret; and one maternal uncle, Sherman.

Jerry is also survived by his five grandchildren: Samantha, Corbyn, Mackenzie, Carter, and Cashus and one great grandson, Riley.

Jerry was predeceased by his mother, Doreen Mary Louise, and his father, Robert Steele, 5 of his maternal uncles and aunts: Lorenetta, Harley, Don, Dorothy, and Bill and seven of his paternal uncles and aunts: Alec, Jean, Bert, Bill, Kathy, Jimmy, and Jack.

In addition, Jerry was predeceased by his 1st born son, Jeffry Robert, who passed October 2024.

Jerry had a 35-year career as a postman with Canada Post. He was posted in Edmonton, then Vancouver, Vernon, back to Vancouver and then back to Edmonton where he finally retired, a day he looked forward to likely since the day he started. He didn’t like the post office much, however, he was good at it and developed a high level of efficiency, turning an 8-hour job into 4 or 5. Once retired from Canada Post, he didn’t stop working entirely. He continued to work doing package delivery for Greyhound, and then scored a job he did like, driving a Zamboni with the City of Edmonton.

He enjoyed a variety of sports, in fact sports were on the television all the time. In his younger years, he played sports too; some hockey, softball/fast pitch and a lot of golf. Jerry was on the golf course as soon as he was allowed, hardly missing a fairway. His email moniker was “fairwayjer”. Early in his golf career, Jerry got a “low gross” in a junior golf meet which earned him a mention in the city paper. Forty years into his golf career he got a hole-in-one: a feat hard to accomplish and often admired by other golfers. Not only did he get one, but his second came the following year. If he could have ever been paid to play golf, that would have topped Zamboni driving.

His favourite things were, of course, golf, but he also enjoyed fishing, watching sports on television, playing crib, beer, rum n’ coke, and Boston Pizza. He also loved a good road trip and it didn’t really matter how long, he was determined to get it done in as few hours as possible. Edmonton to Vancouver, his most frequent trip, he had all the gas stops calculated for best price and efficiency with Blue River marked as halfway.

Jerry had a logical mindset which made him excel in math and earn high grades. He approached most things like a math problem, from tracking time, distance, interest, and investments. In his favourite game of crib, he could calculate the points in his hand and the other players before cards were revealed. His linear thinking sometimes prevented him from thinking outside the box hindering his ability to see anyone else’s perspective. Jerry was definitely stubborn and perhaps a little rough around the edges, however, those that were close to him, though challenged, still loved him. He had a sense of humour and from that, his silly jokes kept the smiles coming.

Jerry’s health had spiraled downward creating challenge after challenge for over 10 years. After a diagnosis of prostate cancer, treatments and interventions mixed with lifestyle choices perseverated health problems he just couldn’t get ahead of. Surgeries, while fixing one issue, created different problems. Infections ensued and would land Jerry in the hospital a handful of times in the last few years. Frequent use of antibiotics possibly made it hard for his body to rebuild sufficient strength and repair itself. The end for Jerry, was not comfortable, but it was peaceful. His last breath was taken with his daughter, Christa; his son-in-law, Len; his brother, Ken; his sister, Brenda; and confidant, Connie, by his side.

Jerry had a way of pushing people’s buttons, stirring the pot, and even riling people up. He also had people that cared and wanted the best for him even when Jerry didn’t want to listen. The race is over, the suffering is gone and Jerry you are free. RIP Gerald Robert Chisholm.