Gerald W. "Jerry" DeVries

1943 - 2018

Gerald "Jerry" W. DeVries 1943—2018
Gerald "Jerry" W. DeVries, age 74, passed away in his home on Sunday November 4, 2018. He was born in Rockford, IL the son of Peter and Mary (Fletcher) DeVries. He is a graduate of Byron High School class of 1961. He married Sandra Camling on April 13, 1963. Jerry was a dairy, livestock, and crop farmer for most of his life. He also had been employed in landscaping, septic installation, and plowed snow for Rockvale Township. As a farmer Jerry enjoyed helping his children Dawn and Scott with their numerous 4-H projects; especially when it came to the time spent at the 4-H fair. Over 50 years of good times with the family were spent in Chetek, WI on the lake. Jerry was an avid marble collector, enjoyed fishing, boating, and waterskiing. He could out slalom any of his children. There are many memories of fierce competition playing Monopoly, Yahtzee or cards which would sometimes last past midnight. He seemed to always win in the end; but his children and grandchildren never gave up. Jerry is survived and missed by his wife, Sandra of Oregon; children, Dawn (Joseph) Kielsmeier Sr. and Scott (Hope) DeVries; grandchildren, Ryan DeVries, Shane DeVries, Autumn Kielsmeier, and Joseph Kielsmeier Jr.; sisters, Janice (Paul Janssen) Welsh and Joyce Rudicil; sister-in-law, Linda (Matt) Wedig; brother-in-law, Neil (Sue) Camling, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and step mother Dorothy.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday November 10 at Farrell Holland Gale Funeral Home in Byron preceded by a visitation beginning at 11:00 am. A memorial fund is established in his name. To leave online condolences visit www.farrellhollandgale.com