Jerry Charles Klement

Jerry Charles Klement, 84, resident of Acworth, Georgia passed away peacefully on February 29, 2024.

The son of Charles and Gwendolyn Klement, Jerry was born in Evanston, Illinois on February 4, 1940. He graduated from Arlington High school in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1957 where he enjoyed playing baseball and basketball.

After graduating from high school, he enrolled in Iowa State University where he played baseball as a freshman and joined Alpha Tau Omega fraternity serving as pledge class president. Jerry transferred to the University of Connecticut where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (class of 1962).

In the fall of 1962, Jerry enlisted in the United States Air Force serving as a first Lieutenant and was stationed in Okinawa at Kadena Air Force base. Jerry led several teams overseeing material management and volunteered as a television interviewer and radio announcer in his spare time. One night at the Officer’s club Jerry met Suzanne Joyce Haile from Atlanta, Georgia who taught elementary school on the base. The rest is history. They married on January 9, 1965, at the Cathedral of St. Phillip in Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Eglin Air Force base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

After the service, Jerry enrolled in Emory University where he obtained his MBA in 1967. For over 25 years, Jerry had a very successful career in the Food Distribution industry, serving in various executive leadership roles, such as President, Vice President, and General Manager of several food distribution companies in the southeast. In 2003, he became a Commercial Real Estate Agent in Florida for 5 years and eventually retired in Acworth, Georgia.

Jerry enjoyed reading, music, sports, photography, the ocean, traveling, and he was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He was known for his height standing 6’6” tall, had a funny dry sense of humor, and he loved spending time with his family.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Gwendolyn Klement and brother, Tom Klement. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Suzanne Haile Klement, daughters Tracy Walker and Beth Dwyer, sister and brother-in law, Peggy and Rick Gafvert, sister- in-law Sheila Klement, sons in law, Steve Walker, and Dave Dwyer, and 4 amazing grandchildren- Reed and Carson Walker and Carter and Harper Dwyer. He is also survived by his wonderful nieces and nephews and their families: Becky Bikul, Peggy Crane, Brad Gafvert, Maureen Klement, Anna Klement, and Judd Klement.

Per Jerry’s wishes, a celebration of life will be held with family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in memory of Jerry Klement at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD, 21741 or via www.michaeljfox.org/give