Joseph Jerry DiNardo's Obituary
Joseph Jerry DiNardo, 84, of Columbus Township, Michigan passed away on February 25, 2017.
Jerry was born December 20, 1932 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Leona (Maselkevich) DiNardo. On November 8, 1952 he married Betty Mae Lerash. It was Betty’s dream to live in the country, and in 1970 they bought a house on three acres, where they have resided since. Gardening was in his blood; he enjoyed cultivating, planting, and harvesting. Together, the family would can and freeze vegetables. Several friends from the ’city’ would benefit from the fruits of the garden.
Although Jerry’s formal education ended in the tenth grade, those who knew him knew that he was self-educated and never stopped learning. His knowledge of mathematics was extensive, and he truly loved figuring out angles, formulas, and solving complex elliptical equations. He worked for several glass companies over the years: Gallagher, Avon, Cadillac, and Modern Mirror, where he retired on October 27, 1997.
But Jerry’s true love was woodworking. After dinner each evening and early Saturday mornings one could hear the different machines cutting wood in the basement. Pine, oak, poplar and black walnut were some of his favorites to work with. Sunday mornings were spent sitting at the dining room table reading his woodworking magazines and catalogs, while occasionally looking out the picture window at the passing cars, birds and bunnies. Reproduction clocks, furniture, windows, pillars, and doors were some of his specialties. Drafting and drawing these projects could be considered art work in themselves. He fixed his own equipment, whether woodworking or tractors, and sharpened his own blades. There really wasn’t much he couldn’t do, and his amazing talents live on in all five of his children and their families.
His shenanigans with family, friends, and coworkers provided him the stories he told and retold through the years. He also enjoyed telling the same jokes over and over, and we laughed again and again. From an early age Jerry collected postage stamps and coins. His grandchildren have started their own collections with coin gifts from their grandparents.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Mae (Lerash) DiNardo, and their five children: Corey, Christine (Steve), Christopher (Bonnie), Curtis (Kelly), and Colleen (Steve), thirteen grandchildren; Cheryl (Keith) Baum, Jeremy DiNardo, Alex (Erica) Gorzen, Andrew Gorzen, Alicia Gorzen, Ashley Miller, Amanda DiNardo, Bryan DiNardo, Emily DiNardo, Allison DiNardo, Cole DiNardo, Nicholai DiNardo, and Nahdia Fleming. Three great grandchildren; Anthony Baum, Bentley Flieger, and Zoey Gorzen. He is survived by his brother Robert (Angela) DiNardo and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Joan Shields, brother in law Chuck Shields, and grandson Charlie DiNardo.
Funeral service will be held Friday March 3rd at 9:30 a.m. at Young Funeral Home, China Twp., Chaplain Max Amstutz will officiate. Visiting hours are Thursday 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Private family interment will be in Christian Memorial Gardens West, Rochester Hills. Memorials are suggested to Special Olympics of Michigan or Blue Water Hospice Home. To send a message of comfort visit www.youngcolonial.com
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