Jerome "Jerry" Richard Gumz

Jerome Richard Gumz was born in Denham, Indiana on July 30,  1932, to Richard H. and Marjorie(Orr) Gumz. He was a lifelong resident of the North Judson area.  Jerry passed away early morning on January 8, 2023. He was 90 years old.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Carolyn.

His family legacy includes his wife of 62 years, Cherry M. Gumz; children Roberta A. (George) Mocogni of Highland Park, Illinois, Richard A.(Linda) Gumz of Endeavor, Wisconsin, Kevin J.(Amy) Gumz of Morganfield, Kentucky, Roderick G. (Michelle) Gumz of Portage, Wisconsin, and Daniel E. (Mary) Gumz of North Judson, Indiana; his sisters, Beverly Meir of Whitewater, Wisconsin, Marcia Devlin of Park Ridge, Illinois, and Barbara Patterson of North Judson, Indiana.  His grandchildren include: Sara Mocogni, Megan(Adam) Cobert and Monica Mocogni; Jacalynn Gumz; Taylor and Matthew Gumz; and Breeann, Jason and Alexandra Gumz.

Jerry graduated from North Judson High School in 1951.  He played football and basketball and was the first Captain of the North Judson Bluejay Football Team in 1948.  He attended Purdue University and served in the US Army from 1954 to 1955, where he was a medic driving and ambulance in Germany.  He farmed his entire life, raising corn, soybeans, seed corn, potatoes, onion and mint in Starke, Pulaski and LaPorte Counties.  On April 23, 1960, he married Cherry Nicholls in a ceremony in Warren, MN.  In addition to being a avid Green Bay Packer fan, IU Basketball fan, duck hunter and fisherman, he was active in many community organizations including coaching grade school basketball at St. Thomas in Knox and serving on the Four County Drainage Board.  He was grand Marshal of the 2002 North Judson Mint Festival Parade.

Visitation will take place Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 5 PM to 7 PM at Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson, Indiana.  

Service will be held at 11 AM Friday, January 13, 2023 with visitation 2 hours prior. Interment will happen at St. Jacobs Cemetery in North Judson, Indiana.

in Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Northern Indiana Community Foundation-Cherry and Jerry Gumz Mint Festival Fund (www.nicf.org)

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