Jerry J. Gettler Sr.

Jerry J. Gettler, Sr. age 83, of Garnett, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at Parkview Heights Living Center, Garnett.   He was born July 26, 1933, in Valley Falls, Kansas, the son of Antone and Velma Edna (Jones) Gettler. He graduated from Omaha South High School, Omaha Nebraska and from the University of Nebraska of Omaha with a degree in accounting. Jerry entered into the United States Marine Corp. in 1953 and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1956. Jerry married Mariellen Benjamin on January 9, 1955 at the First Christian Church in Garnett. This union was blessed with five children. Jerry and his wife owned and operated The Dog House club and restaurant from 1980 through 1986 and also owned and operated Gettler Drywall for many years. He was a volunteer fireman for many years and later became the fulltime Fire Chief from 1990 retiring in 1998. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post #6397, American Legion Fuller-Thompson Post #48, the Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg, Kansas; a charter member of the Garnett Optimist Club; a member of the First Christian Church of Garnett; and volunteered many hours coaching and for the Boy Scouts of America. Jerry loved working in his garden and was an avid Nebraska football and KU Basketball fan, as well as a loyal Chiefs and Royals fan. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mariellen Gettler on May 5, 1997; five brothers, Harold Virgil, Marvin, Antone Jr., Dickie Dwayne, and Jackie Wayne; and one sister, Theda May Bizzarri. He is survived by his children, Katherine J. Waring and husband Herb , Jerry J. Gettler, Jr., Charles W. Gettler and wife Phyllis and Tony Gettler, all of Garnett; Teresa Taylor and husband Curt of Chanute, Kansas; ten grandchildren, Sarah Wells and husband Joel, Elizabeth LeRoy and husband Sean, Kevin Waring and wife Kari, Wyatt Gettler, Cody Gettler, Ryan Gettler, Alisha Gettler, Brandon Taylor, Brady Taylor, and Amber Nolan CLay and husband Brian; eight great grandchildren; many other relatives and a host of friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at the First Christian Church, with burial to follow in the Garnett Cemetery. Family will greet friends on Friday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Garnett. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church or to Crossroads Hospice. You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .