Jerry Holmes

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2024 at the age of 89 with Louise, his wife of 65 years, at his side. Jerry was born on October 27, 1934 in Muskegon, Michigan to Stella Howe and Lawrence Boozer. When he was four months old, his father died of a heart attack, and he was subsequently adopted by his oldest half sister and her husband, Inez and Henry Holmes; he was their only child. Jerry graduated from Muskegon High School in 1953, and briefly attended Ferris College before deciding to follow his lifelong dream to fly. He joined the Navy in March 1955 as a cadet, and served his country until being honorably discharged in 1959. He met and married the love of his life, Louise Christensen, in the fall of 1958. They married just two months later, on December 22, 1958, and eventually settled in Grand Rapids, where Jerry worked as a corporate pilot. A few years later, after a brief stint at Eastern Airlines, he got his dream job with Pan American Airlines, where he traveled the world and eventually became a 747 Captain, all while raising his three children William, Andrew, and Jacqueline with Louise. During these years, the family lived in Madison, Connecticut and Titusville, Florida.
After raising their family, Jerry and Louise relocated to Temecula, California in 1987, where he finished his career as a 747 Captain for United Airlines. After retirement, they moved to Sequim, Washington, where they were active in the local Car Club and enjoyed spending time with their many friends and loved ones. Jerry was active in retirement with the Pan American Clipper Pioneers Club, publishing the group's newsletter for many years. In 2019, they moved to Vero Beach, Florida to be closer to their family.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Louise; his children William (Tina), Andrew (Nola), and Jacqueline (David A. Edwards); nine grandchildren Stefanie Williams (Mikel), Michael, Jennifer Offringa (Kyle), Michelle Marietta (Joseph), Kathryn, Rachel Hershberger (Trent), Angela Sowder (Wesley), David (Hailey), and Hope Edwards; and nine great grandchildren, Eleanor, London, Lennon, Joseph, Owen, Jenna, Maurice, Roman, and Parker.
Services are private. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry's honor be made to the Treasure Coast Food Bank, www.stophunger.org, 401 Angle Road, Fort Pierce, Florida 34947.