Gerald R. Ismert, son, brother, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather passed away on Monday, July 13th, 2015 surrounded by his family.
He was born on October 4th, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, the youngest son of Martin E. and Elsie Ismert.
Jerry attended Visitation Grade School, Rockhurst High School, Class of 1946 and graduated from Rockhurst College in 1950. He served in the United States Army from January, 1951 through October, 1952 and is a veteran of the Korean War.
On November 22, 1952, Jerry married Elizabeth Jean “Betty” Hodes. They have been married for 62 wonderful years. They enjoyed going to church every morning together, walking, watching movies, going to sales of any kind and just being together.
He owned and operated Service Supply Company, a wholesale plumbing distributorship in Merriam, Kansas that he started in 1975. He showed up to work every day since the first day it opened until just weeks before his passing. One of his plumbing reps called him “the last true gentleman in the industry”. He loved coin and stamp collecting, watching Westerns, KU basketball, and studying history and maps from around the world. For seventeen straight years, Jerry loaded up his entire family which included his 10 children and their families and headed to Nederland, Colorado. They spent all their time hiking and enjoying the great outdoors, cooking dinner on an open camp fire, and just having fun with each other. A lot of memories were made on those trips and will be cherished for a lifetime.
Jerry is a devoted Catholic and has been a member of Christ the King Church for over 50 years.
Jerry is survived by his wife Betty of the home and 10 of his 11 children: Mary and Reed Black, Jean and Wade Long, Tommy and Linda, Susie, Tina and Jerry Miller, Bob and Pam, Peter and Tracy, Janie (deceased), Katie and Michael Foster, Joani and Mike Campbell and Chris and Anja.
He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren who will cherish his memory: Maggie, Carson, Mackenzie (Bud), Jackie (Terrance), Adam (Lisa), Molly (Jamie), Kevin, Cody, Jerry (Brooke), Jimmy, Greg, Jake (Ashley), Maddy, Nathan, Nick, TJ, Jack, Marin and Sam. He also leaves behind 7 great-grandchildren: Zayne, Hannah, Avery, Hayleigh, Adisin, Grace and Chloe.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at Christ the King Church, 8510 Wornall Road, KCMO 64114. The family will greet friends from 9:00-10:00 am, the Rosary will be prayed at 10:00 and the Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 am. Burial will follow the service at Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City, KS.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Republic County Food Bank in Belleville, KS or the Christ the King Food Pantry.
Jerry was a simple and humble man who enjoyed spending time with his family and will be sorely missed by each one of them. And Dad we all love you very much and will always remember what you told us:
Be good
Say your prayers
Obey your teachers
Study Hard
Learn
Obey your mother and father
And all those in Authority
I loved meeting up with Betty and Jerry, walking and talking at Ward Parkway mall. For years I could count on seeing you two, smiling, chatting, pounding the pavement together. I love both of you and your big ol’ family. My mom had a special place in her heart for both of you, too. God bless your family, and especially you, Betty, in the days and weeks ahead. Love, Jeanie Neenan
I knew tommy pretty well and I am sorry to here about his loss god bless your family
I am so sorry to learn of Jerry’s passing!
Jerry and Tommy both held special places in my heart when I worked with them many years ago. I have thought of the Service Supply family often.
Jerry will be truly missed!
Kyleen (formerly with Summit Sales)
Betty: So sorry to learn of Jerry’s passing. Thruout our final year at Visitation and all of Rockhurst, he was one of my closest friends…Visitation football, basketball, baseball, HS basketball, college tennis…HS “Southside Poker Club”. Sorry the Korean war marked my departure from KC, followed by employment and retirement in other areas of the country…too bad we lost touch!
What a wonderful Christian man!
For sure he has heard those longed-for word:
“WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, NOW ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER!”
Rest Gerald, until you hear at dawn,
the low, clear reveille of God.
Thank you for your service to this nation. U.S. Army, Korean War.