Rev. Gerald S. "Jerry" Diment

Gerald passed away Saturday, October 7, 2006 at Kairos Dwelling after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born September 10, 1936, in Saginaw, MI, to Lucille and John Diment. Jerry attended St. John Lutheran Elementary School and graduated from Saginaw High School in 1954. He graduated from Capital University in Columbus, OH, in 1958 and from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1962. He served his internship year at Grace Lutheran Church, Fremont, OH. Jerry married Nancy Martin in December of 1960, and she survives him. He served as Assistant Pastor at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD, from 1962 to 1965, and Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Dormont, PA, from 1965 to 1974. In August 1974, Jerry and family moved to Kalamazoo to form an alternative Christian group called the Shalom Community, which met as a worshipping body for 25 years. He managed the Eighth Day Bookstore, an outreach mission of the Shalom Community, in the Vine Neighborhood for 17 years, engaging many persons of all walks of life and supporting their spiritual journey. In 1993, he turned full time to a life-long love of painting. Largely self-taught, he developed his talent for portrait painting. He especially loved painting children and the elderly, or those whose faces represented a life well-lived, and he had a talent for capturing their spirit. He also loved painting nature scenes. In 2004, he opened the Plaza Gallery on the Kalamazoo Mall, where he engaged the downtown community for two years. He had a vision of Kalamazoo becoming an arts destination. He was preceded in death by his parents; and daughter, Amy Diment. In addition to Nancy, his wife of 45 years, Jerry is survived by 3 children, Gregory S. Diment of Parchment, Lisa (Blaine) Panepento of Wooster, OH, and Kirk Diment of Kalamazoo; beloved grandchildren, Colin Diment, Anthony Panepento, Kurt Diment, Steven Faust, Shana Faust, Kristen Metz and Kelly Metz; a sister, Sharon (Larry) Farmer of Frankenmuth; a nephew, Jason Farmer and niece, Kristi (Wally) Knop. Cremation has taken place. A service celebrating Jerry's life will be held 1:30 Saturday afternoon at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 504 S. Westnedge, with Pastor Kenneth Johnson officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-8 p.m. at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. The family has designated Kairos Dwelling, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, or Borgess Hospice for memorial contributions. 269-343-1508.