Gerald W. King

Gerald “Jerry” King, age 92 passed away peacefully at Generations Senior Living in Berea on June 23, 2023. He is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret “Peggy” King, his daughters Karin and Linda King, his sons-in-law, Jack Hinden and Joe Neff, his grandchildren, Adam and Lily Hinden and Phoebe McIntosh-Keating, and his stepdaughter, Shannon McIntosh. A visitation will be held at the Baker-Osinski-Kensinger Funeral Home, 206 Front Street in Berea.on Saturday, August 26 at 1:00 pm, followed by a service at 2:00 pm.

Jerry was born in Elyria, OH, where he grew up on a farm with his mother, Hertha King, and uncles. He graduated from Baldwin Wallace College with a degree in history, a lifelong passion. Jerry’s bookshelves overflowed with works covering World War II history, the Civil War, and Martin Luther. You were always safe buying Jerry a book for his birthday, Christmas, or Father’s Day, and once he started reading it, you could count on the fact he would pay you no attention until he finished.

Jerry served in the Air Force during the Korean War, initiating his lifelong association with aviation. He later worked for Capital and then United Airlines as a load planner, a career that spanned 40 years and enabled him to travel the world. His journeys took him to Egypt, Argentina, Trinidad and Poland to name just a few places.

No country was of more interest than Germany, where Jerry researched his maternal roots and met his first wife, Gundi, who immigrated to the U.S. after marrying him in Bamberg, Bavaria. When Gundi passed away after just nine years of marriage, Jerry faced perhaps the greatest challenge of his life, raising two little girls on his own. He more than rose to the challenge, focusing all his energy to ensure Karin and Linda were loved, well-educated and ultimately successful adults.

Following the hard years of single parenthood, Jerry married his beloved Peggy, with whom he was able to relax and truly enjoy the final 32 years of his life. The two traveled together, for years enjoyed annual attendance at the Ohio Light Opera, cruises to places like Alaska and Costa Rica, and watching “his” Detroit Tigers whenever they came to Cleveland.

Jerry loved baseball, beer and books. He was an avid gardener, at one point tending over 40 rosebushes in his yard. He was a faithful Lutheran, a committed socialist, and maintained a dry sense of humor to the very last. He was devoted to his dogs, and gave a loving home to numerous collies, shelties and golden retrievers (plus a mutt named Smokey).

Above all, Jerry was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Jerry, Daddy, Grandpa – we love you and will miss you terribly!

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