Gerald E. Tolsma

Gerald E. “Jerry” Tolsma, 71, of Baroda, passed away, Friday, April 06, 2012 at his home. Celebration of Life Services will be held 11:30 A.M. Tuesday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Gerald Schroer officiating. Burial will follow at Ruggles Cemetery in Baroda. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Association. Those wishing to sign Gerald’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Gerald was born June 18, 1940 in Kalamazoo to Glenn & Margaret (Ford) Tolsma. He graduated from Portage Central High School in 1958 and from Whirlpool Tech in Benton Harbor in 1960. On October 22, 1960, he married the former Judy Ann Quarry in Portage. Jerry was employed as an engineer at Heath-Zenith in St. Joseph for thirty-plus years, while working part-time at Fuzzy’s Service Station in Stevensville. He was employed for five years at Colonial Tool & Die in Baroda, and retired in 2010 from Nelson Specialties in St. Joseph. Jerry was a member of the Grand Mere Rifle & Pistol Club, and in his spare time enjoyed woodworking, tending to his vegetable garden, and making candles, and was active in Ham Radio. Jerry is survived by his wife Judy; his children Duane (Suzanne) Tolsma of St. Joseph, Dawn Tolsma of Bridgman; two grandchildren-Miranda & Jeremy Tolsma; his sister Barbara (Ward) Healy of Kalamazoo; sisters-in-law Nancy Kalbfleish of Milwaukee, WI, Linda Wilson of Australia; brother-in-law Larry (Ann) Walters of Comstock, MI; and several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant son Bruce Allen Tolsma in 1971.