Jerry
Jerry W. Oetman
Jerry Willis Oetman passed away peacefully at home of natural causes on May 26, 2020.
Jerry was born April 23, 1932, the oldest son of Viva and Clarence Oetman. Jerry was a lifelong resident of the Otsego area where he worked as a draftsman and at local paper mills, as well as at Rockwell, Int. in Allegan.
He married Illene Ballay in 1952 and together they raised five children on the family farm in Watson Township: Debi (Chris) Kraft of Chesterfield MI; Mike (Donna) Oetman of Rockford MI; Major David (Erika) Oetman (deceased 2018); Kathy (Jon) Rockwood of Muskegon MI, Joni (John) VanNieuwenhuyzen of Shelbyville MI.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, his brother LaVern Oetman and son David Lee Oetman.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, four of his children, and sisters Janet Lamb and Marlene Wearne of Plainwell MI. Grandpa Jerry was also adored by 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Jerry loved the outdoors and had a strong connection with nature and animals. His sheep and geese were a common sight on the hillside of Schnable Creek and he could identify every tree in the woods on his farm. He enjoyed attending grandchildren’s events, playing dominoes, and his “Breakfast Club” at McDonalds.
His analytical mind led him to be quite skilled at Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles, often working over the winter months on puzzles up to 9000 pieces! Tinkering with old farm equipment was one of his talents, which he shared readily with farm neighbors. He was involved in Allegan County 4-H for over 40 years, specifically the Watson Corners Livestock Club. Jerry will be remembered for his quiet, steady nature – a man of few words who always had a twinkle in his eye.
Jerry will be interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Hopkins, MI.
Due to national circumstances, a memorial celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Allegan County 4-H or
Wings of Hope Hospice
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Jerry W. Oetman
Condolence Messages
Jerry A Fenner
May 27, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Sorry to hear about Jerry’s passing. Wishing the family peace and good memories in this time of mourning.
Reply
Jackie Strobridge
May 27, 2020 at 5:29 pm
Jerry, always calm in nature. Didn’t see your feathers ruffled much. Dear friends of my parents and us. Gave good advice and helped many. You will bring great peace to heaven with you. Illene, Debi, Mike, Kathy and Joni I know you all know how awesome your dad is.. sending you all love and hugs (not elbow bumps)
Reply
Chris A Kelsey
May 27, 2020 at 5:47 pm
Sorry to hear that Jerry passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Oetman family.
Reply
Karmen Gearhart
May 27, 2020 at 6:34 pm
“His quiet steady nature with a twinkle in his eye”…exactly how a I will remember him.
Reply
Andrea Mack
May 27, 2020 at 7:13 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss! Grandpa Jerry was so kind. Take care!!
Reply
Barb orr
May 27, 2020 at 7:23 pm
Sorry for your loss
Joe and Barb Orr
Reply
Rose Sharrard
May 27, 2020 at 8:34 pm
So sorry to hear about your loss. My prayers are with you Illene and your family.
Reply
Joyce Boss and JoEllen,Jim Garnerg
May 27, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Sorry to hear about Jerry.
Reply
Ed and Penny Brown
May 27, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Oetman family sorry for your loss
Reply
Virgie Kruzel Buhler
May 27, 2020 at 10:46 pm
I am so sorry for your lose.
Reply
Pat Miner
May 27, 2020 at 11:11 pm
I wish you prayers and my sympathy Joni. I pray your family will have peace during these hard times.
Reply
Larry Johnson
May 27, 2020 at 11:40 pm
So sorry to learn of Jerry’s passing. He was a good father and 4H volunteer. Prayers for the Oetman family.
Reply
Jeanne Van Eerden
May 28, 2020 at 7:41 am
So sorry to hear about Jerry’s passing. It is very difficult when your husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend pass away. My heart goes out to you as you grieve your loss. God bless you all. Love and prayers, Jeanne & Dave
Reply
Bill and Marge Nickerson
May 28, 2020 at 12:04 pm
So very sorry to hear of Jerry’s passing . Sending prayers for the entire family.
Reply
Kim Schaafsma
May 28, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Sending up prayers and blessings down. Durning this difficult journey. Love and Hugs To All of The Jerry Oetman Family
Michael and Kim Schaafsma
Reply
Tim and Marcia Quigley
May 28, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Prayers and sympathy to Illene and the Oetman family! God bless you at this difficult time.
Reply
Cousin Rose Hayes
May 28, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Love and prayers to Illene and all the family from the Florida cousins. Will miss bugging Jerry with all those genealogy questions about the Hayes ancestors. ❤️❤️
Rosie, Debi, Tammy and Heather.
Reply
Yvonne Watson
May 28, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Illene and family. So sorry for your loss keeping you in my prayers. Jerry was a good neighbor and willing to help.
Reply
Geri Kelley
May 28, 2020 at 7:22 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Real hugs soon.
Reply
Roxanne Orr
May 30, 2020 at 2:49 pm
So very sorry for your loss Iilene and the Oetman family. Praying for you all during this difficult time.
Reply
Pat Pierce Holland
May 30, 2020 at 6:54 pm
My sincere sympathy to the Oetman family. Cherish your memories.
Reply
Casey Schmalfeldt
May 30, 2020 at 9:51 pm
So sorry to hear about the passing of Jerry. We are thinking of you in your time of loss. This is a very nice picture of Jerry.
Reply
Marlene Wearne
May 30, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Thinking of you and the wonderful memories!
Reply
Kevin Gwilliams
June 23, 2020 at 8:42 pm
Sorry for your loss only good memories
Reply
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Jerry was born April 23, 1932, the oldest son of Viva and Clarence Oetman. Jerry was a lifelong resident of the Otsego area where he worked as a draftsman and at local paper mills, as well as at Rockwell, Int. in Allegan.
He married Illene Ballay in 1952 and together they raised five children on the family farm in Watson Township: Debi (Chris) Kraft of Chesterfield MI; Mike (Donna) Oetman of Rockford MI; Major David (Erika) Oetman (deceased 2018); Kathy (Jon) Rockwood of Muskegon MI, Joni (John) VanNieuwenhuyzen of Shelbyville MI.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, his brother LaVern Oetman and son David Lee Oetman.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, four of his children, and sisters Janet Lamb and Marlene Wearne of Plainwell MI. Grandpa Jerry was also adored by 15 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Jerry loved the outdoors and had a strong connection with nature and animals. His sheep and geese were a common sight on the hillside of Schnable Creek and he could identify every tree in the woods on his farm. He enjoyed attending grandchildren’s events, playing dominoes, and his “Breakfast Club” at McDonalds.
His analytical mind led him to be quite skilled at Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles, often working over the winter months on puzzles up to 9000 pieces! Tinkering with old farm equipment was one of his talents, which he shared readily with farm neighbors. He was involved in Allegan County 4-H for over 40 years, specifically the Watson Corners Livestock Club. Jerry will be remembered for his quiet, steady nature – a man of few words who always had a twinkle in his eye.
Jerry will be interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Hopkins, MI.
Due to national circumstances, a memorial celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Allegan County 4-H or
Wings of Hope Hospice
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Jerry W. Oetman
Condolence Messages
Jerry A Fenner
May 27, 2020 at 2:55 pm
Sorry to hear about Jerry’s passing. Wishing the family peace and good memories in this time of mourning.
Reply
Jackie Strobridge
May 27, 2020 at 5:29 pm
Jerry, always calm in nature. Didn’t see your feathers ruffled much. Dear friends of my parents and us. Gave good advice and helped many. You will bring great peace to heaven with you. Illene, Debi, Mike, Kathy and Joni I know you all know how awesome your dad is.. sending you all love and hugs (not elbow bumps)
Reply
Chris A Kelsey
May 27, 2020 at 5:47 pm
Sorry to hear that Jerry passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Oetman family.
Reply
Karmen Gearhart
May 27, 2020 at 6:34 pm
“His quiet steady nature with a twinkle in his eye”…exactly how a I will remember him.
Reply
Andrea Mack
May 27, 2020 at 7:13 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss! Grandpa Jerry was so kind. Take care!!
Reply
Barb orr
May 27, 2020 at 7:23 pm
Sorry for your loss
Joe and Barb Orr
Reply
Rose Sharrard
May 27, 2020 at 8:34 pm
So sorry to hear about your loss. My prayers are with you Illene and your family.
Reply
Joyce Boss and JoEllen,Jim Garnerg
May 27, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Sorry to hear about Jerry.
Reply
Ed and Penny Brown
May 27, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Oetman family sorry for your loss
Reply
Virgie Kruzel Buhler
May 27, 2020 at 10:46 pm
I am so sorry for your lose.
Reply
Pat Miner
May 27, 2020 at 11:11 pm
I wish you prayers and my sympathy Joni. I pray your family will have peace during these hard times.
Reply
Larry Johnson
May 27, 2020 at 11:40 pm
So sorry to learn of Jerry’s passing. He was a good father and 4H volunteer. Prayers for the Oetman family.
Reply
Jeanne Van Eerden
May 28, 2020 at 7:41 am
So sorry to hear about Jerry’s passing. It is very difficult when your husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend pass away. My heart goes out to you as you grieve your loss. God bless you all. Love and prayers, Jeanne & Dave
Reply
Bill and Marge Nickerson
May 28, 2020 at 12:04 pm
So very sorry to hear of Jerry’s passing . Sending prayers for the entire family.
Reply
Kim Schaafsma
May 28, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Sending up prayers and blessings down. Durning this difficult journey. Love and Hugs To All of The Jerry Oetman Family
Michael and Kim Schaafsma
Reply
Tim and Marcia Quigley
May 28, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Prayers and sympathy to Illene and the Oetman family! God bless you at this difficult time.
Reply
Cousin Rose Hayes
May 28, 2020 at 3:13 pm
Love and prayers to Illene and all the family from the Florida cousins. Will miss bugging Jerry with all those genealogy questions about the Hayes ancestors. ❤️❤️
Rosie, Debi, Tammy and Heather.
Reply
Yvonne Watson
May 28, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Illene and family. So sorry for your loss keeping you in my prayers. Jerry was a good neighbor and willing to help.
Reply
Geri Kelley
May 28, 2020 at 7:22 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Real hugs soon.
Reply
Roxanne Orr
May 30, 2020 at 2:49 pm
So very sorry for your loss Iilene and the Oetman family. Praying for you all during this difficult time.
Reply
Pat Pierce Holland
May 30, 2020 at 6:54 pm
My sincere sympathy to the Oetman family. Cherish your memories.
Reply
Casey Schmalfeldt
May 30, 2020 at 9:51 pm
So sorry to hear about the passing of Jerry. We are thinking of you in your time of loss. This is a very nice picture of Jerry.
Reply
Marlene Wearne
May 30, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Thinking of you and the wonderful memories!
Reply
Kevin Gwilliams
June 23, 2020 at 8:42 pm
Sorry for your loss only good memories
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
Your Name
*
Your Email
*
Their Name
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Message
CAPTCHA
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