Gerald Edward “Jerry” Jarvis, a life-long resident of Manteno until residing in Estero, Florida, in 2018, passed peacefully on Tuesday morning, January 31, 2023, in the comfort of his residence, with his family at his side.
The son of Anthony and Dorothy (Nixon) Jarvis, Jerry was born March 16, 1936, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee. A 1954 graduate of Manteno High School and class valedictorian, he attended Illinois State University and completed his Bachelor of Science degree from Olivet Nazarene College in 1971. His employment included: Kroehler Manufacturing in Bradley, Ford Motor Company in Chicago Heights, Vice President of Municipal Bank’s Manteno Branch, in addition to a lifelong career as the sole proprietor of Jarvis Upholstery Studio in Manteno.
He and his wife, Mary Katherine (Kay) Jarvis, established a life-long presence in their hometown of Manteno and remained active with their congregation at Manteno United Methodist Church, where they were married on September 7, 1957, recently celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Kankakee County area residents are most familiar with Jerry’s role as Mayor of Manteno for 16 years. His other involvements included an elected office for more than two decades as a trustee for the Manteno Public Library District; Manteno Rotary Club, Manteno Chamber of Commerce, and Riverside Foundation Board. He was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Manteno Historical Society in 1991.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Kay; sons, Jeff Jarvis and Amy Ciaccio-Jarvis of Kankakee, and John Jarvis and Taposhi (Mazumder) Jarvis of Darien; daughter, Jan and John Patterson of Weldon Spring, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Cole and Ashley (Bennett) Jarvis of Bourbonnais, Chris Jarvis and fianceé Molly Jourdan of Chicago, Courtney (Jarvis) and Kevin Yahiro of Woodridge, Chad and Amanda Spayer of Bourbonnais, Emily (Patterson) and Tom Kircher of Chesterfield, Missouri, Jake Patterson of Champaign, Ryan Jarvis of San Gabriel, California, and Meghan (Jarvis) and Anthony Campbell of Washington; eight great-grandchildren, Julia, James and Bennett Jarvis, Natalie Yahiro, Kaylee Spayer, Vivienne and Samuel Kircher, and Landon Campbell; in-laws Charles and Linda Ruder of Bonita Springs, Florida, and Louis and Delores (Ruder) Hartlieb of Ft. Myers, Florida; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jim Jarvis, as well as his in-laws, Isadore and Arvada Ruder.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted by Reverend Lana J. Robyne at Manteno United Methodist Church, 255 West Second Street, Manteno, on February 18, at 1 p.m., followed by a gathering in the fellowship hall from 2 to 4 p.m. For individuals not attending, the service will be available live on the Manteno United Methodist Church Facebook site (www.facebook.com/groups/200897290121040). Private burial will be conducted at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Manteno United Methodist Church, Manteno Historical Society, or the donor’s choice.