Jerry Warren Schmutz, age 85, passed away Friday December 30, 2022, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born October 3, 1937, in Lawrence, Kansas, to Lawrence Ralph and Ruth Rockey Schmutz. He grew up in Great Bend, Kansas, with friends whom he kept in touch with and cherished seeing at class reunions.
After graduation from Great Bend High School in Kansas, Jerry and twin brother Larry joined the Navy. They served on the USS Hopewell DD 681 touring the Pacific. After returning home to Kansas, Jerry married Sharon and started a family. He became a piping engineer for Fluor Daniels. There he designed refineries and reactors domestically and internationally. They lived in such places as Holland, Iran and South Africa. Jerry and Jane knew each other from high school, connected at a class reunion, married, and later retired in Fayetteville.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Ransberger Schmutz; his son Mark L. Schmutz and daughters Melanie G. Nugent of Minnesota, Cheryl A. Kennedy of Texas, and Natalie W. Olsen of Fayetteville, Arkansas; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, twin brother John Lawrence Schmutz, and his first wife Sharon Boyle Schmutz.
Cremation has been chosen and there will be a Graveside Memorial Service held at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 3, 2023, at the Great Bend Cemetery in Great Bend, Kansas with Pastor Joseph Smeragliuolo officiating.