Joseph Jerry Serra, age 95, a resident of Chicago, IL, formerly of Des Plaines, IL, went home to glory on March 30, 2024. He was born in Chicago on September 5, 1928 to Joseph (Giuseppe) and Mary Serra (nee Maria Rose Salerno). Joseph was the beloved husband of the late Jean Marerl (nee Altman); loving father of Nancy (Ken) Kramer and Thomas (Joy) Serra; cherished grandfather of Michael (Stephanie) Serra, Andrea (Jerry) Ochoa, Ken (Sarah) Kramer, Joe (Natalia) Kramer, and Vince (Taylor) Kramer; beloved great-grandfather of Tristen, Lillian, Annabelle, Abigail, Jackson, Asher, Silas, Elizabeth, Willow, Kenny, Jr., Edel, Charlotte, Felix, Lucia, Joey, and the late Abel Kramer, the late Angel Kramer, the late Jesse Kramer, and the late Sam Kramer; dear brother of the late Orlando (Elvira) Serra, the late Armando (Genevieve) Serra, and the late Jerry Serra; and fond uncle to many nieces and nephews.
The Legacy of Joseph Jerry Serra:
Joe’s parents immigrated from Italy, met here in Chicago and married. Joe and his siblings were first generation here. Joe learned his strong work ethic from his father who had a barber shop, a restaurant, and an ice cream parlor in Des Plaines. When his brother Jerry was tragically killed in a bus accident, his dad moved the family to a house in Chicago where Joseph was born at 5815 Napoleon Ave. They lived there until the Depression when they lost their home and had to move to the apartment behind the barber shop on Northwest Highway.
Beside the barber shop was a bakery where Joe used to frequently go to request cookies, hence the nickname "Cookie" originated. His mother always referred to him as Cookie; she never called him Joe. Even though he has outlived all his childhood companions, if they were present today, they would still affectionately call him "Cookie" instead of Joe.
Joe went to St. Tecla for grammar school and Taft High School in Chicago. He did not officially graduate until his army sergeant urged him to obtain his GED. Joe joined the army during the Korean War in 1950 and served in the Army of Occupation in Germany. During his service, he worked in the motor-pool, chauffeuring army officials and generals, including one named Cramer. Interestingly, his daughter Nancy's married name is Kramer, which Joe found ironic and often mentioned it when reminiscing about his army days.
After completing his tour of duty in 1952, he returned home and married his sweetheart, Jean Altman, on September 19,1953. According to Jean's memoirs, their first date was a double date with Julianne Stamer and Bob Hollander. Their cherished song was “September Song.” Jean Schneider served as the maid of honor for their wedding, and Donald Beers was the Best Man. They spent their honeymoon at the Wisconsin Dells, renting a log cabin with a fireplace.
As they settled into married life, they created a home filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Joe and Jean shared a deep bond that only grew stronger with each passing year. Their love story, like the timeless melody of "September Song," continued to play on, a beautiful soundtrack to their lives together.
And so began the next chapter of their journey, hand in hand, facing whatever life had in store for them with unwavering devotion and love. Joe and Jean bought a lot at 1758 Locust Street in Des Plaines from his father. Jean designed their own modern home and Joe built it. Nancy Ellen was born in 1954 and Thomas Joseph in 1957.
Joe dedicated himself to working tirelessly, often juggling two jobs, to support Jean in staying at home to raise their children, Nancy and Tom. Initially employed by ADT and Barber Coleman, he pursued further education in temperature control. In 1972, Joe ventured out on his own and established a thriving business, Serra Temperature Control, which he managed until their relocation to Huntley in 1999.
Joe had a passion for photography and created a darkroom in his basement. He shared this hobby with Nancy, teaching her how to develop film, creating cherished memories together. Aside from photography, he indulged in winemaking with his own wine press. Joe also had a diverse collection of coins, stamps, baseball cards, and trains. To bond with his grandchildren, he set up a train layout on the basement pool table and delighted in operating the trains with them. Woodworking was another interest of his, as he crafted rocking horses for his first grandchildren and a dollhouse for Andrea. There was also one for Nancy’s first girl, too, but that one had to wait for great-granddaughters, since Nancy had all boys!
Joe and Jean loved to travel. Every year, Joe would take a two-week vacation, and the family would embark on camping trips to various destinations. In the early sixties, Joe constructed his own pop-up camper and had a custom pop-up tent section made for it. Jean amusingly referred to it as being made by "Omar the Tent Maker!" During one trip to the Ozarks, heavy rain caused the river to rise, prompting a ranger to advise Joe to abandon the trailer and seek higher ground. Determined not to lose the trailer, Joe hitched it up with the top still raised and maneuvered it uphill to safety, despite its considerable weight. On another occasion, the camper got stuck in sand, and Joe ingeniously used the picnic table to wedge slats under the wheels for traction. After freeing the camper, he reassembled the picnic table before they continued their journey. His resourcefulness was truly remarkable!
In 1967, Joe took the family on a memorable trip to the World’s Fair in Montreal, Canada, and to visit numerous Italian relatives in Toronto. The journey was quite remarkable. Expo '67 stood out as one of the largest World Fairs to date. Navigating through the French signs in Montreal provided quite an adventure! There was a comical incident where we accidentally drove down some train tracks due to a wrong turn. However, the highlight of the trip was spending time with our warm and hospitable Italian relatives. We truly enjoyed getting to know them better.
We explored various locations across the Midwest such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Smokey Mountains, Lake of the Ozarks, and beyond. Our camping adventures took us all the way to Florida to visit friends in Cape Canaveral, and eastward to Washington D.C. and the shores of New Jersey.
The family had never traveled west together. However, for their 40th anniversary, Joe and Jean embarked on a journey in their RV all the way to Alaska. They secured a place on the Alaska Ferry, arrived in Anchorage, and continued north through Denali National Park, then west through the Yukon, returning through Banff, Canada, Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. It was an unforgettable adventure!
During their travels as empty-nesters, they explored Europe, Mexico, and Hawaii. They cherished the moments spent reuniting and journeying with their childhood friends. Millie and Ray Beers resided in Padre Island, Texas, and they frequently visited them with Jack and Marion Bowler, while also spending time with Julie and Bob Hollander in Florida. Additionally, they had delightful encounters with friends like Bob and Irene Stinson, Bill and Shirley Turner, and Don and Joann Beers during vacation trips to Wisconsin, Arizona, and California.
In 1999, Joe and Jean settled into a newly built home in Sun City, a senior community in Huntley, Illinois. Joe actively engaged in various activities, such as the Computer Club, Woodworking Club, New Year's Eve Planning Committee, and took pleasure in the golf course and group events. He particularly cherished his time on the Swim Team, where he competed and earned numerous medals.
In 2002, Jean suffered a devastating stroke, and despite Joe being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2004, he cared for her at home. Joe was resolute in his will to survive and look after the love of his life, which he did until her passing in 2005. His commitment and affection as a caregiver were remarkable and such a great blessing.
In October 2021, Joe experienced a stroke that affected his left side, thankfully leaving his cognitive abilities intact. Initially he placed himself under hospice care, but he successfully graduated from it after a year and a half. Shortly after, he contracted COVID-19 for the first time, and although he survived, he never fully recovered. This experience took a significant toll on him. Three weeks before his passing, he tested positive again for COVID-19, but this time without any respiratory symptoms. Despite this, he struggled with fatigue, loss of appetite, and his health deteriorated rapidly.
On March 28th he told Nancy “I’m just trying to die. I want to be with mom.”
He waited for Tom to get here from Mobile and was able to spend a good day with him on Saturday, March 30th. And then the Lord graciously answered his prayers to spend Easter with Jesus and Mom.
Welcome home Dad.
“Well done, good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21
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Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 3:00 - 8:00 PM at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. Des Plaines, IL 60016. On Thursday, April 4, 2024 friends and family are welcome to arrive at the funeral home starting at 8:30 AM. We will say prayers at 9:15 AM then go in procession to the funeral mass at St. Stephens Catholic Church, 1280 Prospect Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60018. Entombment will follow at All Saints Catholic Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oehlerfuneralhome.com for the Serra family.
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