R. Jerry White

R. Jerry White, 87, of Elkton, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024 at home under hospice care.

Jerry was an only child, born to Ralph and Marie White on February 13, 1937 in Hillsdale, Michigan. He was named after his father but was called by his middle name. Graduating at age 17, he entered the US Navy and was a radio operator in the post-Korean War era. Jerry loved being at sea and was forever proud of his time in the military.

After the Navy, Jerry attended Central Michigan University and received a Master’s degree in European History, Humanities and World Religions. He taught for many years at Montcalm Community College and later became Dean of Jordan College in Cass City, Michigan. Following his retirement, he enjoyed selling real estate alongside Jayne, spending winters in Florida and Arizona and summers in the Thumb of Michigan.

Jerry’s two favorite seasons overlapped: Christmas and Fantasy Football. He loved to sit in front of the lit tree at night, looking at the ornaments he and Jayne collected. By day, he could be found in his office, reviewing football stats and competing in several leagues. In his last year, he was beaten by his grandson–a loss that both stung and made him proud. Jerry excelled in relishing the small pleasures in life. He loved weak coffee, poached eggs, Cadillacs, “shoot ‘em up” movies, the Detroit Lions, apocalyptic novels, playing cards, and sitting on the front porch watching the world go by.

Jerry was inspired by the teachings of Mother Theresa, his college professor Dr. Oppenheimer, and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning”, Viktor Frankl. He embraced Frankl’s philosophy to “find purpose by taking responsibility for ourselves and other human beings,” and reflected those values in many conversations with his children over the years.

A hopeless romantic, Jerry penned love letters to Jayne every anniversary and throughout the year. He was a tender-hearted soul, and he cared deeply for the people in his community, including his friends at T.O.P.S., fellow snowbirds in Fountain Hills, Arizona, and his card buddies in Elkton and at the Huron County Senior Center. He was especially grateful for the care he received from the team at Compassus Hospice in the final months of his life.

Jerry was loved by many as a friend, colleague, and father figure. But most of all, he was a loving husband and father who will live on through his family. Inscribed on Jerry and Jayne’s headstone is the essence of the life they created with one another, “Together Forever Unto Eternity.”

Jerry was preceded in death by his sons Devon and Marc White. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jayne, daughter Sara Jayne White, grandchildren Madison and Aidan White and their mother Tonya, brother- and sister-in-law Larry and Colleen Krohn, nephew Charles Krohn and his wife Bronwyn and their children Maya and Mason, niece Jennifer Lang (Krohn) and her husband Dylan, and “granddog” Frannie.

A funeral mass for R. Jerry White will be 11:00am Wednesday, March 20th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bad Axe with Father TJ Flemming officiating. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Osseo, Michigan. Visitation will be from 3:00pm to 7:00pm on Tuesday, March 19th at Champagne Funeral Chapel in Pigeon.

Memorial donations of books may be made in Jerry’s name to Pigeon District Library. Condolences to the family may be offered at www.ChampagneFuneralChapel.com.