Jerry H. Day of Franklin, N.J., passed away on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, after a long illness (non-Covid related).
Jerry is survived by his wife, Diane (Jensen), to whom he was married for 63 years; sons Daniel (Jean Marie) of Vernon, N.J., and Jimmy (Lisa) of Tennessee; grandchildren, Matthew (Lauren) and Travis (Tara) McKowen; Tyler, Kevin and Jason Day of Pennsylvania; Jenna Day of Vernon; Tabitha and Teal Day of Tennessee; great-grandchildren Madison, Jack, and Grayson McKowen; and former daughter-in-law Darlene Day.
He was predeceased by his parents, Lenore and Orville Day; son Jerry Day; infant great-granddaughter Sequoia Day; and several brothers and sisters.
Jerry was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin and the Franklin Seniors. He liked walking, telling tales from his youth and especially travelling, having visited Alaska twice, Hawaii, taken cruises, and toured numerous other locations. Jerry is perhaps best known locally as the Rock Man because of his extensive collection of Franklinite and other rocks, minerals and gems that he mined locally and turned into jewelry, sand art, spheres, and signs. He was a self-proclaimed “bad boy” in his youth, zipping around on his motorcycle with Diane on the back.
Jerry lived all of his life in Sussex County, first in Hamburg, then in Franklin, where he raised his family. He served in the U.S. Army and retired after more than 50 years with Accurate Forming in Hamburg as a tool and die maker/machinist/foreman.
Graveside services will be private and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, Franklin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Franklin Mineral Museum and the Franklin First Presbyterian Church.