Gerald “Jerry” Leonard Ortman, 81, of Coldwater passed away peacefully at his home in Coldwater on Friday, April 1, 2022. A funeral mass will be held Friday, April 8, 2022 at St. Mary’s Assumption Church in Bronson at 12:00 Noon. A burial of ashes will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Twp., MI at a later date. Visitation will be held Friday, April 8, 2022 from 10:00AM to 11:30AM at Dutcher Funeral Home in Bronson.
He was born May 14, 1940 to Frank and Agnus (Janesch) Ortman in Detroit, MI. Jerry led a lifelong career in environmental services at Wayne State University until his retirement. On October 18, 1975 he married Nancy A. DeHaven in Detroit, MI and she survives. Gerald was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bronson and was an avid collector. He had an eye for antiques of all kinds but found his joy in collecting coins, signs, bills of currency, walking canes and most of all, oriental art. Jerry was also talented wood carver and was always sure to stay up to date by watching Squawk Box to keep track of stocks, gas prices, and current events. He was a thoughtful man, always valuing his family and will be dearly missed as husband, brother, uncle and friend.
In addition to his wife Nancy, Jerry is survived by his sister Rita Kobylarz of Fraser, MI , his brother Kenneth (Annie) Ortman of Shelby Twp., MI; his brother-in-law John (Sue) DeHaven of Nokomis, FL; his godson Michael (Stephanie) Ortman of Bronson; nieces and nephews Brian (Marvin Wilson) Kobylarz of Dexter, MI, Leonard (Beth) Ortmann of Sturgis, Debora Kobylarz of Sterling Heights, MI; his great nieces and nephews Kim (Billy) Ware of Sturgis, Chris (Jessie) Comdon of Vicksburg, MI, Kevin (Jen) Comdon of Benton Harbor, MI, Garrick Kobylarz of Pasadena, CA, Shelley Kobylarz of Roseville, MI, Greg (Sedi) Ortmann of Angola, IN and many more loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Jeanne Ortmann, Sylvia Voichik, Irene Stack, and his brothers Richard Ortman and Norby Ortmann.
Memorial donations are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.