Jerome P. "Jerry" Gass, age 68, of O'Fallon Township, born December 10, 1945 in Belleville, died Thursday evening, January 30, 2014, at his home.

Jerry enlisted in the Army as a young man and served in Europe. In 1968, he began working as a typesetter and printer at the O'Fallon Progress. He retired six years ago from Century Printing in Belleville. He was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 4239, and O'Fallon Sportsman's Club. He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, traveling, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He served as a trustee of the O'Fallon Fire Protection District for 25 years. He was a devoted father, coaching his kids in youth sports and always supporting their endeavors. Jerry was very proud of his children, and would drop everything to play with his grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edwin and Mary, nee Schaefer, Gass, brother Edwin Gass, Jr., sister Mary Ellen Missey, brother-in-law Robert Lehman, and sister-in-law Virginia, nee Altemeyer, Gass.

Surviving are his wife, Linda, nee Beckman, Gass, whom he married February 23, 1968 at St. Clare Church; children Keith (Karen) Gass of Newport Beach, Calif., Kirk (Heather) Gass of Danville, Calif., and Karrie (Mike) Van Tieghem of Troy, Ill.; grandsons Nathan, Nicholas, Jordan, Cole, Zachary, and Bryce.

Also surviving are siblings Bette Lehman, Margaret (Mike) Heinz, Joann (Gene) Weilbacher, Theresa (Richard) Koesterer, Kenneth (Carolyn) Gass, and John Gass; sister-in-law Linda Lane, brother-in-law Mike (Barbara) Beckman; parents-in-law Norris and Dorothy Beckman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations are suggested to American Heart Association, The Galactosemia Foundation, or as masses.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Monday, February 3, 2014 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon. The O'Fallon Fire Department will conduct a walk-through at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue at 9:00 am, Tuesday, at the church.

Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at the church, with Deacon Richard Olson. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Shiloh, Ill.