Grand Traverse County MI Archives Photo Tombstone.....Bodamer, Gerald R. "Jerry" ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Harold & Linda Saffron lindaj50@charter.net July 5, 2007, 6:58 pm Cemetery: Linwood Cemetery Name: Gerald R. "Jerry" Bodamer Date Of Photograph: July 3, 2007 Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/grandtraverse/photos/tombstones/linwood/bodamer106950gph.jpg Image file size: 92.9 Kb Gerald "Jerry" R. Bodamer b. 29 Jan. 1934 d. 6 Jan. 2000 -------------------------------------------- GERALD R. BODAMER, 65, of Traverse City, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000. Arrangements are pending at Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. -------------------------------------- GERALD R. 'JERRY' BODAMER, 65, of Traverse City, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. The time and place of funeral services for Wednesday will be announced in Sunday's Record- Eagle. ------------------------------------------ photo Gerald R. 'Jerry' Bodamer Died January 6, 2000 TRAVERSE CITY - Gerald R. 'Jerry' Bodamer, 65, of Traverse City, died Thursday. Born Jan. 29, 1934, in Pontiac, he was the son of Victor Oliver and Ina Vera (Stuart) Bodamer. He was a licensed funeral director and co-owner of the Price-Bodamer Funeral Home from 1955 to 1956. In 1953 he moved to Sturgis and became the owner of the G.R. Bodamer Funeral Home until 1963. At that time he sold the business and went to work for the Champion Chemical Company, retiring in 1999 after 37 years. He also worked for Bass-Mollett Publishers for many years and most recently the Hydrol Chemical Company. He was well known for his affiliation with his sons at Bodamer Carpet and Tile. Jerry was an active member of the Unity Church of Traverse City. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Elf Khurafeh Shriners Temple. He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce in Sturgis. He was very active in the Lions and Rotary Clubs as well as other community activities while in Sturgis. He was a member of T.R.A.M.P.S. of Traverse City. Jerry was a private pilot for many years, flying from 1954 to 1989 and enjoyed flying to many islands in the Bahamas with friends. He enjoyed flying into Canada with his sons and close friends for fishing trips. He was a founding member of the Jackson Michigan Experimental Aircraft Association and loved attending the E.A.A. Conventions in Rockford, Ill. and Oshkosh, Wis. He enjoyed sailing on the Great Lakes, the North Channel, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. He recently restored an antique mustang motor boat and loved being on the water. He designed and built several homes including his current residence. He was an excellent husband, father, grandfather, mentor and was his families' anchor. He encouraged his family with their various endeavors. He was very proud of his wife and children. He was a friend to funeral directors and funeral homes across Michigan, several states, and in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Jerry helped young men and women find apprenticeships and positions as funeral directors. He was an educator and mentor to many and a presenter of educational seminars to funeral directors and mortuary science students. Jerry and a group of funeral directors made a trip to Russia in 1990 to teach Russian funeral directors the art of embalming. While traveling in Moscow, he and his wife met a young man from Lithuania who later traveled to the United States and spent a week with the Bodamers. He was involved in and loved all aspects of the funeral business. Jerry truly enjoyed meeting with his funeral director friends across the state, learning about their lives and families. He was dedicated in serving them in the best possible manner. He and Priscilla loved to travel, they went on over 13 cruises to the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean's, they spent time in the Bahamas, Austria, Germany, Canada, and South and Central America. They traveled through the Panama Canal with friends and into Inter-coastal Alaska. The Bodamers made several trips to the Grand Olde Opry in Nashville, Tenn., and San Francisco. Jerry was Priscilla's best friend, encourager and mentor. He taught Priscilla to pursue, reach and live her dreams. Jerry and Priscilla had been together since 1986. On Aug. 21, 1993, at the Sugar Loaf Resort, he married Priscilla L. Bachman, she survives. Also surviving are his daughter, Sibyl B. (Patrick) Fogarty of Houston, Texas; sons, Daniel A. (Darla) Bodamer and Steven (Naida) Bodamer - both of Traverse City; granddaughters, Caitlyn T. Bodamer and Celeste (Pete) Allen; and his former wife, Jeanie Gregory of Traverse City. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m Tuesday at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. A Masonic candlelight memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. 'Celebration of Life' service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000. at the Unity Church of Traverse City. Interment will be in the Linnwood Cemetery, Long Lake Township. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Munson Medical Center - Cancer Services for Lymphodema or the Saladin Shrine Foundation for Crippled Children. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/grandtraverse/photos/tombstones/linwood/bodamer106950gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb