Gottlieb "Jerry" Schmierer Obituary (1932

K7LFE Silent Key … On Friday, September 21, 2018 Gottlieb “Jerry” Schmierer left the airwaves here to go to his ham radio shack in the sky. He had a brave struggle with dementia, heart problems and diabetes. He was born to John and Katherine Schmierer on January 1, 1932 in Linton, ND. In 1936 the family moved to Washington for better job opportunities but tragedy struck in 1946 when his dad fell from the roof of the house he was building that left the family struggling to survive. His oldest brother, who was employed, became the main provider. His mother did house cleaning bedsides taking care of the family. At the age of 16, with many jobs available at Del Monte in Yakima, Jerry started his working years. In 1963 after a failed peach crop and the family had moved from Moxee to Lombard Loop he transferred to Toppenish. He retired in 1994 as head mechanic in he warehouse when he had his first heart attack. He had accumulated enough sick leave to receive a full year of sick pay and insurance coverage. Other than his job and taking care of the family his main interest was his hobby as a ham radio operator. He built a lot of his own radios and talked to people all over the world. He obtained his first license in 1960 when he had to learn code. He was self taught. He is survived by his wife Theresa (Dorais) of 65 years whom he married on May 23, 1953 two years to the day from their blind date at Holy Rosary Church in Moxee. They had nine children, 7 born in Yakima at St. Elizabeth Hospital and two in the Toppenish Hospital. The children are: Jacqueline, Joanne, Jerry, Joyce, James, Janet, Jeffry, Jay and Julie. He is preceded in death by his parents John and Katherine; his brothers Ronnie, Henry and Marvin; sisters Frances, Sharon and Irene; daughter Jacqueline and son Jeffry. He is survived by his children: Joanne (Cornell), Jerry (Pam), Joyce (Roy) Bauerle, James, Janet (Rusty) Owen, Jay (Jenny), Julie Schmierer (Richard); 12 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. Rosary will be 6pm, Wednesday, September 26, 2018 and Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10am, Thursday, September 27, 2018 both at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (Moxee). Burial will be at Holy Rosary Cemetery.