Obituary of Jerome Sylvester Hartjes

     Jerome "Jerry" Sylvester Hartjes passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 27, 2021. Jerry was born on November 7, 1937 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin to Quintin and Isabel (Passineau) Hartjes. 

 

      Jerry and his late wife, Mary, traveled around the world with their four children during his 20 years of service in the United States Air Force. After retiring from the USAF, he continued his education and received a masters degree in criminology and psychology from the University of Florida. Jerry worked as a counselor with the Florida Department of Corrections for 20 years. 

 

After retiring in Brevard County, Florida, Jerry and Mary continued their travels for several years and enjoyed several trips across the US and Canada. Jerry especially loved fishing in Alaska. Jerry and Mary found a permanent home base and a new family of friends at Ameri-Cana Resorts in Rockledge, Florida.

 

     Jerry was a lifelong learner who wrote profusely over the years.  Jerry also dedicated himself to a lifetime of service to others. Over the years, he worked in an orphanage, mentored disadvantaged youth, built libraries for low income schools, taught cooking classes to foster children and a myriad of other services. He gained strength through his Catholic faith.

 

     Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Mary Lee, his beloved sister, Rita Pruitt, and a granddaughter, Amanda Leigh Padot.  Jerry is survived by his four children, Kay Brickey, Patti Padot, Michelle Raffii, and Lee Hartjes; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

 

     Internment will take place at a later date at Bushnell National Cemetary in Bushnell, Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

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