Gerald "Jerry" Siemer

Gerald “Jerry” Siemer was born on February 12, 1936, in Alton, Illinois to Wanda (n. Gibson) and Aloysius “Ollie” Siemer. Over ten years later when his sisters, Cheryl and then Kay, joined the family, Jerry and his older brother, Ron, fought over who could hold them.

Early on, the young Siemer family moved from Alton to Carrollton, Illinois, where Ollie Siemer owned a car dealership. When he was a little kid, Jerry enjoyed pulling his wagon to deliver oil cans for the dealership, and when he was a little older, Jerry washed cars at his father’s garage. Jerry often spoke of the fun he had with his best friend, Ed Riva,– especially the times spent out at “Second Bridge.” In the summer, Jerry worked on the Carrollton farm of his grandparents (Lulu and Elmer Garrison). Among other farm jobs, Jerry pitched hay and worked with the horses, Jack and Queenie, who pulled the hay wagon. He had fond memories of the Siemer family vacationing in the Ozarks and at Ice-Cracking Lake.

Jerry enjoyed playing with St. John’s High School basketball team. His Class of 1953 had only 13 graduates, but it wasn’t until 50 years after graduation that Jerry attended his first annual St. John High School reunion. After that, he enjoyed attending the reunions as often as possible and visiting with many old friends.

After high school, Jerry joined the Marines, becoming an aviation photo technician who loaded and unloaded film onto airplanes taking off from and landing on naval aircraft carriers. After his honorable discharge, Jerry got to observe the construction of the magnificent St. Louis Arch, while working as a cartographer in a nearby office building. As a cartographer, he worked on mapping the moon!

In 1963, Jerry graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, which led Jerry right into a career in Sales. He was selling tires in central Illinois when B.F. Goodrich transferred him to the Chicago district office. For a short while, Jerry lived with his brother, Ron, Ron’s wife, Patti, and their five boys in Oak Park, Illinois.

A young lady named Lenore Kuenster lived right across the alley with her parents and eight siblings. Jerry and Lenore kind of liked each other and started dating. They had a great time driving all over Chicagoland in Jerry’s 1964 green Mustang convertible. They were married in Oak Park on December 27, 1970, and lived happily ever after! Jerry and Lenore were blessed with a son, Scott, and two daughters, Ami and Lora.

Jerry was very successful selling tires for the first half of his career. For the second half, he sold tools. Jerry felt that, while tires were a necessity, people really enjoyed buying tools. His customers dreamed about, wished for, and wanted to buy tools. Jerry enjoyed his job and was great at it. In early 2001, when Jerry was just weeks short of being 65 years old, the tool company he worked for had a large downsizing and Jerry was “allowed” to retire. Jerry’s friends and family had a big retirement/birthday party for him at Hayward’s Bar-B-Que.

Jerry adjusted and, after a while, enjoyed being retired. He could golf and go out for coffee with his friends much more often. The best part of retirement was that his schedule was now wide open for visiting his first grandchild, Mallory, born to Scott and Shelli on Christmas Day 2000. About two years later, Mallory’s brother, Jackson, joined the family, a double blessing. Then ten years later, Jerry's daughter, Ami, now Garrison, and her husband, Kendall, were blessed with their daughter, Lulu. About another ten years later, here comes daughter Lora’s son, Owen. Jerry agreed with the quote: “Grandchildren are God’s own way of compensating us for growing older.” All of his grandchildren gave Jerry great joy—ask any of his friends—he was always showing them photos.

Jerry loved being with his friends and family. After getting Covid in early 2023 and again in early 2024, this past year was especially challenging. Except for the last month or so, Jerry was able to get together with friends for Tuesday lunches, Friday breakfasts at Village Inn, and Thursday evening get-togethers. Eighty-eighty years young, Gerald “Jerry” Siemer passed away at home in Overland Park, Kansas, on Monday, December 16, 2024. He leaves many to mourn his loss, but he will be enjoying himself with friends and family who are already in Heaven. Jerry will be in our thoughts and prayers—until we meet again.

Jerry Siemer was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ron; brothers-in-law, Larry Price and John Lake; and nephew, Eric Siemer. He is survived by his wife, Lenore; son, Scott (Shelli); daughters, Ami (Kendall) Garrison and Lora; his beloved grandchildren, Mallory, Jackson, Lulu, and Owen; his sisters, Cheryl (Richard) Faxon and Kay Lake; and sister-in-law, Patti Siemer. He will be remembered fondly by many brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and so many good friends.

On Friday, December 27, 2024, at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church (7023 West 71st Street, Overland Park) visitation will be from 9:30 AM to 10:25 AM. Mass with Fr. Bill Bruning will begin at 10:30 AM. After Mass, Jerry will be buried close to friends in Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas. The family asks that in place of flowers, contributions be made to the Red Cross or to a favorite charity.