Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Rockafellow, Gerald "Jerry" November 30, 2023
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@concast.net May 19, 2024, 2:28 pm

Ionia Shopper's Guide - Sat.December 9, 2023

               ROCKAFELLOW

Gerald "Jerry" Rockafellow of Ionia and Long Lake, passed away on November 30, 
2023. He was born on April 14, 1934 in Vickeryville, MI, the son of George Earl 
and Cora Mary Rockafellow.

Known to many as the Ionia Main Street Barber for over 40 years. Graduated from 
Sheridan High School, Class of 1952. He attended Shiloh Community Church. Jerry 
worked as a cabinet maker in Grand Rapids for 6 years, before graduating from 
Flint institute of Barbering, Florida Barber School, and Michigan Real Estate 
School.He purchased the Ionia Barber Shop in 1961 from the Charles Groom estate 
which he opened in 1919, trading the building with the City of Ionia for the 
Jack Block Building next door in 1992. That building now is the small screen of 
the Ionia Theater.Jerry retired in 2000 from barbering (which he called his 
hobby), Realestate and remodeling houses. He started another hobby of his 
woodworking making Cedar Chests for graduation gifts around the Ionia area.

Jerry did a lot of civic services, President of the Ionia Jaycees, U.S. Jaycee 
Senator, President of Ionia Kiwanis, Charter Board member Eight-Cap, Boy Scout 
Leader, Little League Manager, Chairman for Ionia Airport first fly in, 
Organized Ionia Senior Citizen Club, Chairman of the 1973 and 1983 Ionia 
Sesquicentennial Time Capsule in the courthouse lawn to be reopened in 2033.

Jerry's hobbies included woodworking, golf and traveling.Having seen all 50 
state, 9 provinces of Canada, Mexico, Asia,China,Australia,New Zeeland, Fiji, 
Japan, United Kingdom, Ireland,Mainland of Europe, most of South America and the 
Caribbean Island. Spending winters in Florida, Texas and Arizona since 2000.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, son Terry, daughter Debbie Marie, 
Fiance' Inez Harmon; daughter-in-law Debbie, sisters Louise Jorgensen and Lois 
Jenks, brothers-in-law,Stanley Jenks, Bob Jorgensen and Bill Nestle.

Surviving are his sons, Michael of Ionia and Rick of Florida,; stepchildren, 
Kimberly Crissman and Jeff Conner; sisters,Norma Nestle and Nila (Chuck) 
Johnson; brother James (Ellen) Rockafellow; several grandchildren and several 
great-grandchildren. He is also survived by "the girls" Carla Moore, Cindy 
Rackhom, Anita Fletcher and Rhonda Haney.

Funeral services were held at Shiloh Community Church on Wednesday, December 6th 
at 1:00 PM with Pastor James Floyd officiating. Interment Tuttle Cemetery. 
Visitation was 2 hours prior to services (11-1) at the Church. Arrangements in
care of Lake Funeral Home of Ionia. Online condolences may be made at 
www.lakefuneralhomes.com

Additional Comments:
Tuttle Cem.,
Ionia,Mich.

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