A Christian burial service will be held at the Catholic Community of St. Jude, 801 North Bridge Street, DeWitt, on Friday, January 31st at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at the City of DeWitt Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation will be held at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 205 East Washington Street, DeWitt, on Thursday, January 30th, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Jerry was born in Three Rivers, on August 30, 1934, the daughter of Marcus and Flossie (Hotrum) Timm. She graduated from Constantine High School in 1952. Jerry married Norman Gene Strayer on July 13, 1957, in Centerville. She was a Telephone Operator and Line Supervisor with Michigan Bell and later AT&T. Additionally, she and her husband co-owned and managed Chicago Point Resort on Gun Lake, where they made many friends over the years. To this day, renters laugh when they see the “Per Jerry” signs still hanging in the cottages. “Please don’t remove the dishes from the cottage – per Jerry.” “Please open the blinds before traversing – per Jerry. She loved sewing, knitting, reading, garage sales, and spending time with her daughters and their families. She adored her grandchildren.
Jerry spent the last four years as a resident of Gunnisonville Meadows Assisted Living Home in DeWitt. She was affectionately known as “Jerr-Bear,” by staff. Her family knows that moniker was honestly earned on more than one occasion!
Jerry was preceded in death by her parents, Marcus and Flossie Timm; and her brother, Maurice (Bud) Timm. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Norman; daughters, Susan (Richard) Carlson of Shelbyville, Connie (Jeff) Levanseler of Chelsea, Kimberlee (Steve) Blair of Lansing, and Deborah (Matt) Hanson of Martinsville, Indiana; seven grandchildren, Samantha Blair (Joe Baldwin), Andrew Levanseler, William Carlson, Taylor Boshoven (Nick), Michaela Levanseler, Gwyneth Hanson, and Aiden Hanson; one great-grandchild, Maverick Boshoven. She is also survived by brother-in-law, Donald Strayer; and sister-in-laws, Marguerite Strayer and Faith Timm; along with many nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made to the Catholic Community of St. Jude, DeWitt, MI or the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 30400 telegraph Rd. Ste 150, Birmingham Farms, MI 48025.
