Jerry Verba III

1957 - 2014

Jerry Verba III

Jerry E. Verba, III, born June 9, 1957 at the age of 56 years old passed away peacefully with his sister at his side in Carmel, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 at 6:22 a.m.

He left this earth so suddenly, leaving his family and friends in shock and sorrow. He leaves a legacy of love, humor, honor and friendship.

Jerry was the son of the late Jerry (Babe) Verba and was raised by his late grandparents, Antionette and Jerry Verba from Madison, Ill. He lived his young life attending Madison Schools and was a great student, friend and an admirable athlete.

After graduation from Madison Senior High in 1975, Jerry enlisted in the Navy and made it his career for 25 years being stationed in Adak, Alaska, Misawa, Japan, Skaggs Island, just to name a few. He was a first class petty officer and focused on cryptology throughout his naval career. According to his many shipmates he was not only a great boss but a wonderful and funny person whom they considered a friend and each had great stories to tell of their boss.

Jerry is survived by his sons, Jonathan (Kristina) Verba of Chesapeake, Va., and Alexander Verba of Chesapeake, Va.; his uncle, Jim Verba of Pontoon Beach, Ill., Joyce Ousley of Granite City, Ill., his niece Kimry Bassett of St. George, Utah and his only sibling, Linda Verba Bassett of Carmel, Calif. He is also survived by many, many cousins whom he spent countless Sundays with to enjoy his weekly "Grandma's Sunday Dinner". He loved and missed those days and Jerry always cared deeply for each of his cousins (Deb, Ronnie, Kenneth, Nancy and Michele).

Jerry had literally hundreds and hundreds of friends from every walk of life and from all over the world. Many wrote to tell me what a wonderful, warm and funny man Jerry was and how giving he was to anyone who he came in contact with. He loved being the giver and never the taker. His love in life was to mountain climb and yearly he climbed Mount Whitney and Yellow Stone frequently, a course to play golf, a game of tennis and reading all the classics. He was a ranked member of the American Chess Association, a member of The Obsessive BackPackers Club and also a member of The Tidewater Tennis Club. While, very bright yet so unassuming, Jerry was a self-taught scholar who loved art, history, politics, and was curious of so many aspects of life and world history and current events.

He still had so many adventures ahead of him...it was amazing how much he looked forward to explore, experience and do. He was a great lover of life and there were never enough hours in the day for him to learn and consume those passions. In general, his wide spread curiosity about life was amazing, just like the man.

His second home was working for Dollar Tree Corporate as a assessment management specialist where he was employed for 18 years. He always told everyone that he loved it so much he never missed a day! He loved everyone who worked there and considered each of them a close personal friend from all the way up the ladder to all the way down the ladder. I know he will be missed by each of them, they brought as much love and light to is life as he did theirs.

While he loved to debate, even to the end and while many may have disagreed with him (particularly his sister) everyone always had great respect for him. He was a true leader, and had a very special gift of encouraging others to follow their dreams and be the person they were meant to be during this lifetime.



Brother: Fairwinds and following Sea's as you ship out to your new adventure...



In lieu of flowers I am sure Jerry would love your donations to go to the Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriors.org

Funeral: Private services will be held in Carmel, Calif., and also in Chesapeake, Va.