Gerald Nicholas Spierings

SPIERINGS, Gerald N. (Jerry), 74, lost his courageous battle to Cholangiocarcinoma, January 14,
2025. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. With a quiet, kind and
generous nature, Jerry was a humble man of integrity whose acts of love and humor will live in our
hearts. He will be dearly missed and always loved.
The youngest of four siblings, Jerry was born in Berea, Ohio to William and Maria (nee Rosloot)
Spierings on November 8, 1950. He attended St. Mary school in Avon, Ohio and in 1968 graduated
from Elyria Catholic HS, Elyria, Ohio. Jerry enlisted in the USMC in 1970, was deployed to Viet
Nam, and honorably discharged. In 1973, Jerry and Kathleen Burnett were married and started
their family. He proudly graduated from St. Petersburg College in 2003.
Jerry generally worked in the construction industry beginning on paving crews in Ohio, supervising
various construction projects and as a Project Manager in Florida.
Jerry was a devoted, dedicated and cherished husband, father and family man. Left to mourn are his
loving wife of 51 years, Kathleen; daughters Julie Spierings and Lisa Suarez; granddaughters Reina
Suarez and Maya Williams; great grandson Andrew Hodge; son-in-law Mark Michael; a grandson-in-
law Jesse Hodge; brother Anthony Spierings; sister Wilhelmina Kapron; and many nieces and
nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John, and his son Andrew.
Jerry loved the outdoors; gardening, tending his trees and plants; he loved living near the Gulf of
Mexico and for the last two years on Lake Clay in Lake Placid. Jerry also loved to travel. He was
especially happy to have traveled to his parents’ homeland, the Netherlands last year.
A service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, February 12 th , 2:30 pm at Bay Pines
National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg 33708. A Celebration of Life will follow
at Springwood II Clubhouse, 10440 US Hwy. 19N, Pinellas Park 33782.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home and Crematory.
The family extends a special thank you to Good Shepherd Hospice (Violet Team) for their help,
compassion, and thoughtfulness. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to
chaptershealth.org/give/donate.