Jerry Douglas

Jerry Douglas was an independent thinker who embraced knowledge and strong family values. He consistently showed his dedication to others, not just through the profession he chose, but the life he chose to lead. Jerry cared deeply for his family and showed it by providing faithfully for them, and sharing much love and laughter.

Jerry’s story began in Kalamazoo, Michigan on March 10, 1928. He was the oldest of three children to Clark and Doris (Giddings) Douglas. Jerry led a typical childhood of the time, attending the Kalamazoo area schools, and spending much of his leisure time playing with his pet pig and fishing, his lifelong passion. As a teenager, he could usually be found hanging out with his group of friends known as the “hearse gang.” After graduating from Kalamazoo Central in 1946, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served overseas in Germany during the occupation after the war.

Jerry’s life took a new direction when he was set up on a date with Eleanor Jean Buiskool by his father, who owned a paint store, and her father, a local painter. Jerry wasted no time in sharing his favorite pastime with Eleanor as he took her fishing at Pretty Lake for their first date. Hopelessly in love, the two were happily married on March 19, 1955. Jerry and Eleanor spent the next 56 years together, raising their 3 children: Bob, Mark and Cheryl, and sharing many wonderful memories as a family.

Life was good for Jerry and Eleanor, full of hard work and lots of fun. After the unexpected death of his father in 1958, it fell to Jerry to run the family owned business, Douglas and Son Paints. This wasn’t exactly what Jerry wanted to do in life, but he was determined to make the paint store the best it could be. A real workaholic, he worked many long hours and treated his customers with the utmost respect. To show his appreciation for their loyalty, he had a “painter’s party” every year for them.

Although Eleanor was Jerry’s first love, fishing was his second. He could spend hours on the water waiting for the fish to bite. Jerry had a boat named Cap N Crunch in South Haven that he took out just about every weekend. Still, wherever the couple was vacationing around the world, they always took time to fish – so Jerry was truly a world fisher! The changing of the seasons in Ludington didn’t even stop Jerry from getting some fishing in since he and Eleanor had been wintering in Cabo San Lucas for the last 20 years.

Outside of fishing, Jerry loved to travel, and although he had plenty of maps on hand to get him where he was going, his best adventures were exploring the back roads. A very intellectual man, Jerry was always finding new things to read up on and discover. He read the newspaper daily, as well as magazines and books on history, and watched CNN and the Weather Channel. Jerry was only too happy to share information during a conversation. Anyone who knew Jerry, though knew his trademark was his corn cob pipe. All who knew Jerry will treasure his memory.

Jerry Douglas, age 83, of Kalamazoo, died at his home on Saturday, October 22, 2011. Learn more about Jerry and visit with his friends and family at an open house on Saturday, October 29, from 2-5 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Thompson, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw (657-3870).

Members of his family include his 3 children: Bob (Alice Drenth), Mark (Sharon) and Cheryl Sargent; 2 grandchildren: Jared and Andrea Sargent; 2 step grandchildren: Don Watson and Sarah (Bill) Vincent; 2 step great grandchildren: Olivia and Gage Vincent; 2 sisters: Janice Boyle and Annette Lavier; and numerous other family members. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor in June of 2011. Please visit Jerry’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory, upload a photo and sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.