Gerald "Gerry" A. Sherman

Gerald A. (“Gerry”) Sherman, 92 years and 11 months on earth, went to our Lord on Sunday, February 9, 2020, surrounded by loving family members at Graceway South Haven Nursing Home.  A life-long South Haven resident, Gerry was born March 7, 1927 to Rupert and Gladys (Myers) Sherman and was the younger brother to Rupert, Jr. (“Tim”), Burt and Port.  All of those preceded him in death, as he was the last living Sherman in his generation related to the well-known Sherman Dairy and Ice Cream enterprise.   

 In his younger days, Gerry was an outstanding high school football and basketball player and earned All-State recognition in 1944 as a fullback on the last undefeated South Haven High School football team to date.  Gerry met his wife Margaret (“Margo”) Horski Sherman in the summer of 1947 and out-romanced her MSU suitors to an April 3, 1948 wedding in East Lansing.  While raising their three children, Gerry served as the primary breadwinner through various jobs with the Sherman Dairy and farm and a second career operating the South Haven redi-mix concrete plant started by Tim Horan and later taken over by Consumers Concrete.  He retired at age 62 so that he and Margo could annually spend six months between October and April at their “winter home” in Winter Haven, Florida, which they enjoyed for over 20 years.

Gerry served his country in World War II in the US Navy.  He was a long-time American Legion member, a 71-year Elks member, and a long-time, fully participating member of St. Basil Church – converting to Roman Catholicism after he married Margo.

Gerry enjoyed working outside, playing tennis and golf, and riding his bicycle.  He and Margo were loving parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends to all they met.  They fashioned a respected and endearing legacy to all who knew them.

Gerry was preceded in death in April 2010 by Margo.  He is survived by children Beverly Edwards (Woody) of Louisville, Kentucky, Daniel Sherman (Meg) of Valparaiso, Indiana, and Diane Skuza (Barry) of South Haven, Michigan.  Gerry and Margo also had 10 grandchildren, which include Bev’s children: Emily (Monty) Fields, Joshua (Kris) Edwards and Jonathan (Sarah) Edwards; Dan’s children:  Jacob, Kathleen, Annemarie and Bridget; and Diane’s children:  Joseph (June) Skuza, Andrew (Colleen) Skuza and Daniel (Mary) Skuza.  Also, Gerry’s grandchildren bestowed him with 13 great-grandchildren – Sophie and Benjamin Fields, Kaitlyn Edwards, David Edwards, Charles and William Skuza, Audrey, Heidi and Conner Skuza, and Claire, Belle, Celia, and James Skuza.  Gerry also had numerous nieces and nephews – both Sherman and Horski descendants – that he loved and cherished.

Visitation will be held at St. Basil Catholic Church from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 13 with a prayer service at 7:30 and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14.  A Funeral Mass celebrating Gerry’s life will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14 at St. Basil’s with Father Jim Morris officiating, followed by a luncheon at the church.  Burial will take place at North Shore Memory Gardens, Hagar Shores, Michigan.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be donated to St. Basil School Scholarship Fund at 513 Monroe Blvd., South Haven, MI 49090.