Gerald "Jerry" M. Boyles

Gerald (Jerry) M. Boyles, 84, went home to be with Jesus on Sunday morning July 14, 2024 at Luther Oaks in Bloomington. Jerry was born March 6, 1940 to Leo and Flora Boyles. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, his daughters, Jeralyn (Brian) Thielen, Susan (Jim) Hopton, his son, Jeff (Dawn), 7 grandchildren, Danielle (Jordan) Jeremy, Brooklynne (Alexander), Paige, Ireland, Caleb and Kanen, 2 great grandchildren, Malcom and Lena, and his four brothers, Clyde, Tom, John and Dave. He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant brother, Chris, his sister, Cindy and his son, Ryan.

Jerry graduated from high school in Evanston, Indiana in 1958. After high school, Jerry attended Purdue University and then found a job with Fairbanks Morse, a Pump and Scale company in Chicago, Il. As a manufacturer’s representative for Fairbanks, Jerry often had to give dictation to one of the secretaries. He had an eye on one particular secretary named Barb. Although, there was a rumor that Barb was already engaged, that didn’t seem to stop Jerry from making an inquiry about her availability. One day Jerry went up to Barb and said, “Hey, I heard you’re engaged?” Barb replied by saying, “Well, we’re still thinking about it.” Being rather quick witted, Jerry didn’t miss a beat and followed up by saying, “Well, I know this pretty good looking guy you can go out with while you’re still thinking about it.” And as the saying goes, “the rest is history!” Barb and Jerry were married March 10, 1962. Back in their Fairbanks Morse days, Jerry use to say that Barb took his dictation. After marriage, he soon learned to say, “Now I take hers!”

Jerry had enlisted in the Army and his base assignment was in Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. Jerry and Barb lived there for 6 months until Jerry was transferred to Germany where he was stationed until 1965. Jerry and Barb returned to the states and he resumed work for Fairbanks Morse. In February of 1969, a new job opportunity with Linden & Company brought Jerry, Barb and their young family to Peoria, Illinois. Jerry remained busy selling pumps with Linden & Company and eventually took over the business when the owner, Ralph Linden, passed away in 1978. Jerry kept the name of the company in honor of Ralph and continued to sell pumps until he finally began slowing down at the age of 80! His son, Jeff now runs the company.

Jerry was known by many as a fun, yet incredibly honest business man as well as a loyal friend, a devoted husband and a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. Papa, as he was best known by his grandkids and great grandkids, was the best Papa ever! There was never a shortage of Papa jokes, silly ghost stories, brown pop (Coke or Pepsi with caffeine) and the opportunity to jump on beds when moms and dads weren’t around. He will be very much missed, as he left an indelible imprint on so many hearts.

Visitation and Celebration of Life services will be held at Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton, 2408 Willow Knolls Rd in Peoria. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5-7 p.m. and a celebration of Jerry’s life will be the following morning, Thursday, July 25th at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Swan Lake Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.Woolsey-Wilton.com.