Gerald B. "Jerry" Cusack

1932 - 2017

Gerald B. "Jerry" Cusack
PEORIA - Gerald B. "Jerry" Cusack, 85, of Peoria went to be with his beloved wife on Saturday, May 13, 2017.
Gerald was born on February 19, 1932, in Peoria to Dr. Patrick A. and Vera Marie Leary Cusack. He was the devoted husband of the late Janet M. (Bulger) Cusack, who passed away on January 13, 2013, in Peoria.
One brother, Patrick A. Cusack Jr.; and an infant daughter, Colleen Marie Cusack, also preceded him in death.
He is survived by five children, Beth (Dave) Stevens of Florida and her children, Cristin (Jeff) Fesler, Dan and Caileigh; Kathleen (Dominic) Visione of Illinois and her children, Brian, Bruno and Sonny; Karen (Randy) Warner of Colorado and her children, Grant (Jenna), Kyle (Sarah), Colin and Mollyanna; Kevin (Lori) Cusack of Illinois and his children, Jennifer, Kaitlyn (Scott) Schmidt and John; and Tim (Anne) of Peoria and his children, Carly, Hannah, Luke, Alison, Chloe, Jake and Lucy. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Graham Koenig and Finn Koenig, Andie Koenig, Nolan Koenig and Charlotte Schmidt. Also surviving are his siblings, Dolores M. (Ed) Murphy, Dr. James (Maureen) Cusack, Susanne C. (Joseph) Nelson-Helms, Dr. Thomas (Dr. Sara) Cusack, Dr. Michael L. Cusack, John K. "Jack" (Kathleen) Cusack, Robert A. (Lula) Cusack, Dr. William (Kim) Cusack and Daniel P. Cusack.
Jerry lived a life that most people dreamed about. He was born and raised in Peoria as one of eleven children. He married his high school sweetheart, Janet, on October 3, 1953. They raised five children together in their hometown.
After working for Peoria Motors and Parke Davis, Jerry founded Midmark Medical in 1974, where he continued to work until his death. This career allowed him the ability to travel throughout the country. It was during this time that Jerry perfected his knack for combining business with pleasure. He made friends all over and could spend hours talking about the places he had been and the things he had seen.
He was a founding member of The Cosmopolitan Club in Peoria.
He had a number of interests, which included fishing, cooking, painting and flying, but Jerry's deepest love was for his wife Janet.
Jerry was a loving and dedicated brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His sense of humor and ability to make people laugh was unmatched. He will be greatly missed by those he left behind, but he will be in our hearts forever. Rest in peace Dad, we are comforted knowing that you are with mom.
A funeral Mass will be on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at 10 a.m. at St. Philomena Catholic Church, with Fr. David Richardson officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 17, at Wright & Salmon Mortuary from 5 to 8 p.m.
Further visitation will be thirty minutes prior to the mass on Thursday. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in West Peoria.
Memorials may be made to Dept. of Nursing at Bradley University, 1501 W. Bradley Ave. Peoria, IL 61625.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging on to www.wrightandsalmon.com.