Sept. 9, 1943—June 23, 2022
Gerry Wayne Orendor, 78, of Gold River, Calif., died on Thursday, June 23, 2022. Gerry died at home with his wife of 59 years, Nickie Orendor, and daughter, Kimberly Orendor, after a long battle with the parkinsonism Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
He is survived by his wife, Nickie, and daughter, Kim, of Gold River, Calif., along with his sisters, Margie and Nancy, of Lexington, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Mary Orendor, and siblings, Doris, Darlene, Vick, and Jimmy, all of Lexington, Mo. Gerry was also the beloved brother-in-law and uncle to many, who all recall his warm smile, loving spirit, and crazy antics.
Gerry was born Sept. 9, 1943, in Lexington, Mo. He attended schools in Lexington, until joining the U.S. Navy in 1960 at the age of 17. Gerry served two years aboard the USS Princeton. While aboard the Princeton in 1962, he participated in deployment of helicopters and Marines to Vietnam, and the nuclear tests of Operation Dominic in the Pacific Ocean. This exposure to Agent Orange and ionized radiation resulted in his developing PSP at the age of 70.
In August of 1962, Gerry met Nickie (nee Hoskins) at a USO dance in Long Beach, Calif. The couple eloped four months later and were married Dec. 22, 1962, in Lexington, Mo. They returned to California where Gerry began a long career as a grocery store manager. The couple adopted their only child, Kimberly, in March of 1967. The family moved to Colorado in 1976 where they co-owned and operated a grocery store in Winter Park, Colo., for five years. The family moved to Lexington, Mo., for one year, where Gerry worked in a grocery store and as a crop adjuster. Then, once again, Gerry and family moved back to the Golden State.
After living in Santa Clara for five years, Gerry and family settled in Sacramento, Calif., in 1987. Gerry worked for the family-owned Compton’s Markets in Sacramento and then started his own handyman business in Gold River, Calif. He painted homes throughout the Sacramento Valley area and was still getting requests to paint homes well into his retirement.
Gerry enjoyed traveling, including vacations to Hawaii, Florida, and China. He loved swimming in the ocean and his backyard pool. Friends and family fondly remember Gerry often jumping into the swimming pool fully clothed after coming home from work. Each morning, for as long as his eyesight would allow, he started the day by reading his Bible. He loved listening to Jesus music.
He will be greatly missed by friends and family. Gerry will be laid to rest at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, Calif.
A graveside service for Gerry will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. to noon at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountVernonMemorial.com for the Orendor family.
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