Gerald ‘Jerry’ R. VanKovering
Gerald “Jerry” R. VanKovering, 72, died at 7:45 p.m. March 1, 2012, in his residence.
He was born May 28, 1939, to Gerhard and Phoebe Norman VanKovering. In 1959, she married Janet M. Paul. Born to them were Ron A. and Saari A. VanKovering.
Jerry and his wife, Nancy Crum Herrin, met at the First Presbyterian Church, Warsaw, where both attended, and were united in marriage Feb. 12, 1983. Jerry and Nancy were privileged to enjoy a wedding trip to Hawaii, the first time ever for Jerry to fly.
He grew up in Riverdale, Ill. He, his mother, father and sister, Jean, attended Gano Reformed Church, Roseland, Ill. He recalls that “if church was open, we were there.” As a young boy, he accepted Jesus at a group, “Youngsters for Christ”, which he and his family participated. Also as a boy, he worked in the field alongside his grandfather, Jake Norman, doing truck farming.
He loved sports, especially basketball. He played the trumpet in band both at Washington Grade School and Thornton Township High School. While he did not care at all for “formal schooling,” he did graduate from high school in 1957 and has since continued his lifelong learning in the “school of hard knocks.”
He has always had a passion for vehicles (he distinctly recalls his first car, a 1949 green Chevrolet) and could identify many vehicles by make, model and year until recently when most vehicles are “look a likes” of one another, no longer having clearly distinctive lines, characteristics, etc.
Workwise, he had three places of employment during his working career: Quint Brothers, Hammond (carburetor/electrical) for eight years; Standard Oil, Evergreen Park, Ill., (car repair clinic) for 14 years; and Petro Brothers Chrysler, Warsaw, (service manager) for 27 years, retiring in January 2009.
Having attended many Bible conferences and vacationed in the Winona Lake and Warsaw area, when his job with Standard Oil was eliminated, the family jointly decided to relocate to Warsaw in 1979 to be a part of the lake area they all so enjoyed. On April 27, 1982, Janet suffered a cerebral aneurysm from which she did not survive.
He and Nancy have always been active exercises and fitness enthusiasts. Since March 2011, that lifestyle has been dramatically altered due to Jerry’s diagnosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma, the treatment for which is chemotherapy. The goal of the treatment is remission of lymphoma, as at present, there is no cure.
Their blended family now includes Ron and Kelly VanKovering, Zachary, Chloe, Sherl, VanKovering and Steve Walter, Paul, David and Martha Herrin, Megan, Kevin, Ryan, Katelyn, sister Jean (and Harold) DeBries.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, with Pastor Jeff Pfeifer officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials may be made to Warsaw Community Church or Fellowship Missions.
Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
Gerald ‘Jerry’ R. VanKovering
Gerald “Jerry” R. VanKovering, 72, died at 7:45 p.m. March 1, 2012, in his residence.
He was born May 28, 1939, to Gerhard and Phoebe Norman VanKovering. In 1959, she married Janet M. Paul. Born to them were Ron A. and Saari A. VanKovering.
Jerry and his wife, Nancy Crum Herrin, met at the First Presbyterian Church, Warsaw, where both attended, and were united in marriage Feb. 12, 1983. Jerry and Nancy were privileged to enjoy a wedding trip to Hawaii, the first time ever for Jerry to fly.
He grew up in Riverdale, Ill. He, his mother, father and sister, Jean, attended Gano Reformed Church, Roseland, Ill. He recalls that “if church was open, we were there.” As a young boy, he accepted Jesus at a group, “Youngsters for Christ”, which he and his family participated. Also as a boy, he worked in the field alongside his grandfather, Jake Norman, doing truck farming.
He loved sports, especially basketball. He played the trumpet in band both at Washington Grade School and Thornton Township High School. While he did not care at all for “formal schooling,” he did graduate from high school in 1957 and has since continued his lifelong learning in the “school of hard knocks.”
He has always had a passion for vehicles (he distinctly recalls his first car, a 1949 green Chevrolet) and could identify many vehicles by make, model and year until recently when most vehicles are “look a likes” of one another, no longer having clearly distinctive lines, characteristics, etc.
Workwise, he had three places of employment during his working career: Quint Brothers, Hammond (carburetor/electrical) for eight years; Standard Oil, Evergreen Park, Ill., (car repair clinic) for 14 years; and Petro Brothers Chrysler, Warsaw, (service manager) for 27 years, retiring in January 2009.
Having attended many Bible conferences and vacationed in the Winona Lake and Warsaw area, when his job with Standard Oil was eliminated, the family jointly decided to relocate to Warsaw in 1979 to be a part of the lake area they all so enjoyed. On April 27, 1982, Janet suffered a cerebral aneurysm from which she did not survive.
He and Nancy have always been active exercises and fitness enthusiasts. Since March 2011, that lifestyle has been dramatically altered due to Jerry’s diagnosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma, the treatment for which is chemotherapy. The goal of the treatment is remission of lymphoma, as at present, there is no cure.
Their blended family now includes Ron and Kelly VanKovering, Zachary, Chloe, Sherl, VanKovering and Steve Walter, Paul, David and Martha Herrin, Megan, Kevin, Ryan, Katelyn, sister Jean (and Harold) DeBries.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, with Pastor Jeff Pfeifer officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials may be made to Warsaw Community Church or Fellowship Missions.
Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
