Gerald L. "Jerry" Shoemaker

Gerald L. “Jerry” Shoemaker, age 71 of Savanna, Illinois, died Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Eagle Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Clinton, Iowa. Cremation rites will be accorded. A private family burial will take place in the Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna at a later date.

Jerry was born on February 25, 1938, the son of C. Earl and Dorothy (Stewart) Shoemaker in Thomson, Illinois. He attended Thomson High School and graduated with the Class of 1956. After graduation, Jerry served his country in the United States Navy from 1956 – 1961. He was married to Kaye M. Phillips on April 6, 1962 in Savanna.

Jerry worked for Drives Incorporated, Fulton, Illinois and later for DuPont in Clinton for thirty years, retiring in 1996. Jerry was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting all types of game, especially ducks. He was also a gunsmith and collected, refurbished and sold antique firearms. Jerry was a “Jack of all Trades” from carving wooden gunstocks to painting and drawing flowers that he grew. Most of all, Jerry loved spending time with his three grandchildren. He also cherished spending time with his friends who would stop by and visit.

Jerry will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Kaye of Savanna; a son, Philip (Erica) Shoemaker of Sabula, Iowa; a daughter, Denise (Tom) Noordhoff of Savanna; three grandchildren, Austin and Kylee Shoemaker and Karenna Noordhoff; two brothers and one sister. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents.