Jerry Picker

Jerry was born on August 9, 1948 in Springfield, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Suzie; his beloved daughter, Kristy (Mark); and grandsons, Tommy, Max, and Jack. He was the seventh of eight children of Harold and Myrtle (Beckett) Picker (deceased). His siblings are his brothers Mel (deceased), Richard (Loretta, deceased), Glenn (Kim), Les (Sue), Jim (Rose), Paul (Rosemary), and his sister Janet (Carl, deceased), and his nephew Patrick (Maryellen). Suzie’s family also played a big part in his life: Larry Gerstner (Joyce), Linda Berteau (Paul), Nancy Leggett (Bill), and Ron Upham (Nancy).

Jerry grew up in Mechanicsburg, Ohio and at age nine, moved to Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Patterson Cooperative High School in 1966. He attended Wright State University, where on a ski club trip to Breckinridge, Colorado, he met the love of his life, Suzie. They married in 1972 in an outdoor ceremony at the bride’s family home. Jerry went on to graduate from The Ohio State University in 1974 with a degree in Geology and Mineralogy and spent most of his career in the oil and gas industry. He was convinced that climate change is real and man made from the use of hydrocarbons over the last 150 years.

Jerry was a longtime member of the Vineyard Church of Columbus where he served in various ministries. For the last 10 years, he was an active supporter of Thirst Relief International’s efforts in Southern India supplying clean drinking water from new wells drilled in poor villages. He enjoyed people, and his hobbies were fishing, woodworking, landscape gardening, traveling and playing with his cherished grandsons. He relished his time at the family cottage on Lake Temagami in Ontario, Canada for the last 50 years, rarely missing the annual trip.

Jerry was the best husband, father and papa one could ask for. He was kind, gentle, caring, thoughtful, generous, non-judgmental and purposeful. He was an instant friend to all and helped an abundance of people spiritually, monetarily, or by always being available to fix any broken appliance in anyone’s home.

The funeral will be held at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221. The service will be held at 1:00 p.m. and visitation to be held immediately after from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the ALS Association, PO Box 37022, Boone, IA 50037-0022. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences.