Gerald Geringer

Jerry moved to Denver from Colorado Springs with his family when he was 12 years old. The family of 5 lived in a small one bedroom duplex on south Grant St. and paid a monthly rent of $5.00. Jerry always loved to tell the story of how he won a bicycle in a raffle at the Mayan Theater. He loved that bike and he also loved to send Doris Jeanne to the store to buy him a pickle. She says he was always a kidder, was always pulling pranks, but was very protective of her and of all those he loved. She was his boxing partner when he got a set of boxing gloves for Christmas one year. She says she got the worst of it. They would go outside and play cars in the dirt. Even when they got older, they would double date together. She will miss him very much. When Jerry and his wife Gene began studying the Bible, Doris Jeanne and her husband Andy began as well. Soon before Roy, their father, died, he said, "I hope that I am considered
to be one of Jehovah's witnesses, too."

Jerry was also close to his brother, Roy. They served together during World War II, Jerry entered the Navy, driving the LCVP boats - the landing craft used in amphibious landings. Typically constructed from plywood, these barge-like boats would ferry a platoon-sized complement of 36 men to shore at 10mph. Men exited by charging down the boat's bow ramp. Jerry was the only one in danger since he stood up on the outside of the boat to stear. Roy served in the Army Air Corps and settled in Fullerton, California after marrying his wife Dorothy. Roy is now 92 years old and enjoys reminiscing about fond memories of the family.

After the War, Jerry married Gene Smuts in 1948. He was working at Associated Grocers and she was working at American Crystal Sugar Co. They rented a small apartment near downtown Denver, then moved to their home near Washington Park. Later Gene began working for Gates Rubber Co. and Jerry continued for 25 years at Associated Grocers as Assistant Controller. When Gene died in 1973, Jerry quit work to be with his boys. They worked together doing cleaning jobs and selling Slender Now, a soy based nutritional product. This allowed for them to stay strong as a family. Five years after Gene died of melanoma cancer, Jerry met and married Elaine Edgar, a young piano major at the university of Denver. She had just become one of Jehovah's witnesses, and did her best to learn from the man who she somehow imagined must have slept in a black suit. He had his fun side, though, and they enjoyed many vacations, often driving to Santa Fe, a place he had always disliked, but she got her way...as did anyone that Jerry loved.

Of utmost importance to Jerry and all of his family was the study and application of the Scriptures. This shaped his world view. He saw drastic changes in the world around him during his 88 years of life. He went from not giving a thought to locking the doors, even when no one was home, to making sure the door was locked and the burglar alarm set when he was home during the day. However, his understanding of the Bible and the promises it held out for mankind's future provided him with a strong sense of hope. As a result he was not fearful of the things he saw going on in the world. He knew that according to scriptures such as Luke 21:25-28, these things would happen, but that relief would soon come for mankind. He spent 57 years teaching others about, and comforting them with this hope.

Many Saturday mornings were spent visiting older ones in their homes or at nursing homes. Any ones of any age who were struggling with whatever problems they had were drawn to him for encouragement and help. One young man who Jerry had found in the door to door service had been attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall for a while, but who Jerry had found in the door to door service had been attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall for a while, but then stopped coming. Years later there appeared a bag of clothing, money, and a Bible on the porch with an anonymous note attached saying that the person was not worthy of living and wanted to donate his belongings. After some time of wondering who that might be, it came to us that it was the young man mentioned here. Jerry hopped in the car and went to the house. Sure enough, he found the young man, reestablished a Bible study with him, and helped him to get back on his feet and back to the meetings. A long friendship resulted.

As and elder in the congregation, whenever he had a part or a meeting of the elders coming up, he would spread the literature out on the table to prepare thoroughly. Very old school and by the Book, Jerry never offered his own opinion as to how to proceed, but always asked, "Where is it written that it should be done this way?" His second wife, Elaine, had fun asking him questions about scriptural things she had learned, hoping he didn't know the answer. Only once did she get to share something he didn't already know.

Four boys were born to Jerry and Gene.
Bill with his wife Diane, had two children, Tara and Jared. Bill and Jared died in a tragic boating accident while taking a weekend vacation in the mountains. It was the rare occasion when Jerry sat quietly on the couch and cried. Those attending the memorial service spilled out into the parking lot of the Kingdom Hall and they stopped counting those
attending when it went beyond 800 people.
Jim and Rosanne had three children, Brandon, Derek, and Kaeleigh. All are now married and doing well.
David and Shari had three children, Shanna, Bren, and Ryan. All are also married and doing well.
Philip and Michelle have served at the Watchtower Society's Headquarters in New York for many years and have welcomed the family and others to visit there whenever possible.
From his grandchildren, Jerry had 13 great grandchildren.

One boy was born to Jerry and Elaine, Robert. After working through the "young bull, old bull" confrontation of youth, Robert learned that his father had become his best friend. When he said recently that no one can replace Dad, Jerry said, "He doesn't need me, he needs Jehovah." And he was right.

Two scriptures which shaped Jerry's life were these. Matthew 22:37-40 "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this: 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets." and Revelation 21:3, 4 " With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."

We look forward to the hope given at John 5:28, 29 which says, "Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." For over 50 years, Jerry dedicated himself to serve his god, Jehovah and to imitate His son, Jesus Christ as best he could. We look forward to seeing him smile, breathe deeply, get out to sail on the ocean as he always wanted to do, and embrace his friends and family once again. Happier times will then be here for all.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Jehovah's Witnesses
25 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483