Jerry was the kind of friend who showed up without being asked, both in life and at the utility plant where our friendship was forged in the heat and hum of industrial machinery 37 years ago. His recent passing had left a void, but the memories of our shared life and the easy banter that lightened our demanding workdays still bring a smile.We met when I started as a new Instrument Tech, feeling overwhelmed with the complexity of pneumatic controls and utility operations. Jerry, a seasoned operator with a perpetual smirk, started the friendly teasing the first day our paths crossed. One day, as I was working in the control room in a confined space, he started poking fun at me for having a hard time trying to get out of that space by saying ‘come on you old man, do I need to pull you out?’ That dry wit, that ability to find a moment of humor in a stressful moment, became the hallmark of our years together.Our friendship thrived in the unique world of the plant, a place of shift work and shared responsibility. Jerry joined the Instrument Tech group a few years later and we became a reliable team, navigating everything from minor equipment failures to major outages. We collaborated on many different projects. I remember one in particular, a couple of pneumatic soot blow controllers on a pair of coal fired boilers that were continuously failing. We had many calls in the middle of the night to come in and repair them. One day, Jerry suggested we should upgrade them to electro-mechanical control boxes and program their operation in the Distributive Control System (DCS, a digital controller used for automating utilities equipment). Jerry built the control boxes and together, we configured the control logics in the DCS. The project was a huge success and we no longer got called in for repairs. The camaraderie was a necessary pressure release, a way to stay human amidst the technical grind.Outside of work, our lives intertwined in simple, meaningful ways. He was a huge sports fan and especially loved his Chicago Bears. Since I was a Packer fan, the bantering never took a day off. We would talk about family life a lot and his love for his two children Mattew and Loren and his wife Sue. He had recently told me that Sue was the saint in his life. He truly loved his family.Jerry left a deep mark not just on me, but on all the people who knew him. He cared for people more than himself and his uncharacteristic sincerity showed the depth of his heart beneath all the banter.I'll miss our shared coffee breaks, the "life talks" we had during the good and the bad times, and the way he could always make me feel that whatever the challenge, we'd get through it.Grief is the final responsibility of loving someone. Jerry, you were good people as you would have stated, a true friend, and I am grateful for every shared moment, every piece of advice, and every laugh we had. You taught me how to be a good friend, simply by being an amazing one in return. Your spirit lives on in the stories we share and the mark you've left on all our hearts. Rest in peace, my friend.

I do remenber Jerry growing up. His grandparents Harold & Helen Snyder was my Uncle & Aunt. Jim & Myrtle (Snyder) Smith

I was saddened to hear of Jerry’s passing. We played football together in school and Jerry saved many games by punting the ball deep into their side of the field and the many catches he made too. My heart and prayers are for Jerry’s family and friends in hopes our great Lord gives you comfort in this time of sorrow.

Jerry was a talented and respected engineer as I worked with him for several years. A good friend, and most importantly a brother in Christ. May Jerry rest in peace in his new heavenly home.

Condolences to Jerry's family...sorry for your loss.Played a lot of football, basketball and baseball with Jerry back in High School days. Great athlete and friend!