Jerry was born in Detroit in 1947 to Joe and Genevieve Kotas, the youngest of 6 children. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 – 1968 and fought in the Vietnam War. Jerry and Sue met at an 8th grade dance, and married on February 1, 1974. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family. They were blessed with 3 children: Jeffery (1976), Jason (1978) and Jessica (1980). He retired from Total Armored Car in 2012 after 30+ years of driving trucks – he hauled everything from soda and ice cream to wine and money. In his retirement, he loved doing puzzles, visiting the casinos and traveling to warmer destinations, like Arizona. He and Sue enjoyed playing poker and euchre with their many card club friends. As a proud veteran, he loved his collection of eagles and supported our vets however he could.
He is survived by his wife; Sue, children; Jeff (Letitia) Kotas, Jason Kotas, Jessica (and Derek) Eng, grandchildren; Alex, Amelia, Olivia, Brooke, Ryan, Daniel and Keira, siblings; Joanne (Ken) Straub and Mike Kotas; and several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and other family and friends.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 18, from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Kaul Funeral Home in Clinton Township. Funeral services will be on Monday, February 19 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Sterling Heights. He will lay in state at 9 a.m., with mass at 9:30 a.m. Interment and military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project.
