Jerry was born on a farm near Easton in Leavenworth County, Kansas on December 26, 1939 to John H. and Claudine (Mitchell) Leavitt; both predeceased him. He was also predeceased by older brothers Raymond and (John - LHS Class of 1953); a sister Violett; special cousins Jimmy Mitchell and Donny Pritchett; and his wife Trudie - who passed away in 1998.
Survivors include his daughters Lenae Farr (Russ) of Lansing, and Chris Berry (James) of Leavenworth; grandchildren Melissa Lewis (Steve) of Prairie Village, and Cory Farr of Lansing; brothers Paul (Debbie), and Dean (Clovis); sister Darlene; sisters-in-law Jeanette Weeks (Harry), and Karin Jackson (Leon), along with several nieces and nephews.
At age 17, Jerry was "too busy to finish high school 'cause he had better things to do," and so he and a carload of his buddies loaded up and went to California. This wild bunch included Jack Jennings and (Ralph Brown, Jr. - LHS Class of 1953). They worked hard and played hard, but the big cities got to them after awhile and so each made their way back to Kansas, with Jerry choosing to hitchhike. After returning to Leavenworth, Jerry began working for the Leavenworth Foundry where they were making parts for bombers, at the time. Quite a step up from his days as a stock boy at the local grocery store, drinking the juice from jars of pickles, then placing them back on the shelves,
On June 11, 1960, Jerry married (Waltraud "Trudie" Fetzer (Davidson) - LHS Class of 1960), and shortly thereafter he joined the Navy - heading back to California. He served on the infamous aircraft carrier the USS John Hancock during the Vietnam War. Jerry loved cars, and had a sideline business flipping cars for sailors, and having fresh rides available once the ships docked.
Initially, Jerry wanted to make the jump to the Air Force once his time in the Navy was up, but Trudie was homesick and wanted to return to Kansas, which they did in 1964. Once back in Kansas, Jerry began working for General Motors, where he was known as Bill. Starting out on the assembly line, he eventually worked his way up to paint shop foreman - a position he held for many years. He was also privileged to help place the "new" Fairfax plant online, as well as spending time in Wentzville, Missouri to help get that newly constructed plant operational.
Jerry always had sideline businesses, aside from his night job at GM. With his dad, and brother Paul, they collected and dealt in scrap metals. A good Saturday was 3 trucks loaded down with metals headed for M & M Katch in Topeka. That is, when they weren't busy in the summertime painting barns around the county with their spray rig. Or, building a new family home during GM 'model change,' or working on a flip house. There was never a dull moment, and plenty of work going on if Jerry was around.
Jerry retired from "Generous Motors" in 1992, which allowed him to spend more time on one of his greatest passions, aside from Trudie - Chevelles. In many circles, he was known as Mr. Chevelle, and had a special interest in 1964,65, 66, and 67 Malibus. He travelled around the country to swap meets to buy, sell, and trade parts to outfit some of his most prized Chevelles and EI Caminos. For every model year Chevelle which Jerry owned, the mix included a 2-door hard top, convertible, 55, convertible SS, and EI Camino, along with several parts cars. Only a select few of these cars were restored, which he still owned at the time of his passing. After Trudie passed away, the Chevelles were never quite the same to him, although he still enjoyed his personal favorites. The legacy of the '64s he and Trudie enjoyed will live on with his granddaughter Melissa and her husband, Steve.
Together, Jerry and Trudie owned several rental homes, as well as flipping many houses over the years. Taking a cue from his own dad, Jerry built several homes for his family to live in, always upgrading. He was ahead of his time, as the first few homes were built mostly with reclaimed lumber and brick from old buildings on Fort Leavenworth, where his father worked for the Post Engineers who were in charge of demolition projects. Many a night was spent removing nails and "cleaning" the lumber and used bricks. After living on Kickapoo Road for several years, his goal was to own the wooded hillside behind Fort Leavenworth known as Government Hill, with its picturesque view of Salt Creek Valley and the old Fort Riley Road, and he did just that. Jerry spent the last 40 years of his life at the 'house on the hill,' which still has a large claw foot bath tub rescued from Fort Leavenworth. When Trudie passed away, Jerry was extremely heartbroken. They had worked hard, and looked forward to enjoying down-time. They were both still young. Life was so unfair, and he carried that hurt inside him the rest of his days.
Jerry eventually struck up a friendship with Karen Kinsey, who he was married to briefly beginning in 2003. Together, Jerry and Karen made it a point to hit up many antique malls and auctions throughout the area, with an occasional pit stop at a casino to win enough money to play for free and buy dinner. He adorned his home with many unique and beautiful antiques from these outings, giving it a Victorian feel. For a guy living alone, he kept an immaculate home.
He was a complex guy, and not only enjoyed Chevelles, antiques, and coins, but also his granddaughter's sugar cookies, Clint Eastwood, John Gotti, hanging his laundry outdoors, ironing his blue jeans, flowers, and finding the best diners to eat in. Mowing grass was therapeutic, and he loved mowing with his special oxygen tank attachment strapped on his John Deere. He adored his mother-in-law, Gertrude, and would do anything for her. And this, despite the fact she despised him as a young man racing around on his motorcycle. He somehow found a way to win her over, as well as her daughter Trudie. If that isn't complex, I don't know what is. Most people that know Jerry would say you didn't have to listen too long or closely to understand where he stood on any subject. The Navy tattoo on his right arm said it all: Born to Raise Hell. Always direct, and somewhat outspoken, he called it like he saw it. Privately, though, he had a big heart and very soft side to him. It was nothing for Jerry to stop his truck and mow the grass for elderly women he didn't even know, after he saw them struggling to do so. It was important to him to check on his friends and family, and visit them especially when they were ill. His own illnesses made him even more sensitive, and despite the number of tortuous sticks, pokes, and prods in the hospital - he was always kind to the staff. He cooked many meals for those down on their luck, and could make a killer pot roast, and navy beans and ham. Over the years, he and Trudie assisted many tenants and others who were in dire straits, as much as they could - something he continued to do till the very end. He always felt that people who worked hard, tried their best, and were honest, deserved a helping hand. He gave everyone a chance, and often many chances. All he expected in return was honesty, respect, and a motivated spirit.
The family is especially grateful to Kris Meinert of Saint Luke's Hospice who diligently checked on Jerry and his family, while providing expert guidance and calming reassurance to them, in helping him prepare to reunite with Trudie.
The Navy tattoo on his left arm says it all: Trudie's.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be directed to: Kickapoo Township Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Butch Bollin, 17673 Logan Road, Leavenworth, KS 66048; or, Leavenworth County EMS, 500 Eisenhower Road, #100, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Both agencies took great care of Jerry over the past year each time they were called to his home during his many health emergencies. Without their diligence and patience, Jerry would not have been able to continue to stick around to keep everyone on their toes.
A Visitation and Celebration of Life will be held at the Davis Funeral Chapel in Leavenworth, Kansas on Sunday, December 23, 2018 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Private inurnment at Mount Muncie Cemetery will occur at a later date.
Condolences may be left on Jerry's online guestbook.
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