Jelen, Gerald "jerry" Anton Obituary

Jelen, Gerald "jerry" Anton attended Corvallis High School in Corvallis, OR. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Jelen, Gerald "jerry" Anton.

Graduation Year	Class of 1962
Date of Passing	Sep 07, 2010
About	Gerald "Jerry" Anton Jelen, 66, of Albany died September 7 (2010) at his home. Jerry was born to Leonard & Caroline Rogers Jelen in Aurora, IL. He was the middle child, having an older brother, Leonard, and a younger sister, Kathleen. The family lived in Aurora until settling in Yachats. They moved to Corvallis, where he attended high school. While watching & helping his father and uncle in their logging business, Jerry decided early on that logging work was too hard. He started in the building industry working on Harmon Homes. Jerry met Arlene Kendall & they married shortly before he was drafted into the Vietnam War where he served his country for two years. When he returned he continued building. They built a house in Shedd and had a daughter, Tracy Ann, whose newborn baby picture he kept in his wallet for 41 years. Jerry & Arlene later divorced. Jerry was a journeyman carpenter for 30 years. He worked at WahChang, Western Craft and was superintendent for many of the Ramsey Gerding industrial building projects. He enjoyed working on the first phase restoration of the Crater Lake Lodge. Jerry was always ready to lend a helping hand and often used his expertise to help friends with their own building projects. In 2008, Jerry built his dream house on his rural property. He loved the '63 Chevy Impala from his youth, and had acquired one that he hoped to restore. Close friends knew not to call on "race days" as he was an avid NASCAR fan. He enjoyed spending time with friends, hunting and fishing, and clamming and crabbing at the coast. He was a lifelong member of the VFW 584 & the American Legion, and a Golden Eagle member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Albany. He is survived by his brother, Leonard Jensen; his sister, Kathleen, and his daughter Tracy & her husband Adam Scramstad