Jerald W. Hess

Columbiana- Jerald W. Hess, also known as Jerry, passed away peacefully at his residence Monday with his family by his side from complications of ALS known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
He was born in Ohltown January 15, 1932, a son of William Earl and Alice (Brooks) Hess and lived in Austintown until 2001 when he moved to Columbiana.
He was a 1951 graduate of Austintown Fitch School and joined the carpenters union that same year, receiving his 50 year pin in 2001. After working for several local area housing companies as a carpenter and then as a foreman, he then went into supervision with Ryan Homes. Following that, he went into commercial building as Superintendent for D.D. Davis, Gibbons and Grable and Podojil Builders from which he retired in 1996.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge #1557, Carpenters Union local #171, Saxon Club, Lake Milton Boat Club, Youngstown Steel Valley Square Dance Club, and belonged to both an afternoon and evening Saxon Club Bocce league and for many years bowled in a mixed doubles league and also a men’s league. He was a member of the Austintown Community Church.
Mr. Hess enjoyed ball room dancing as well as square dancing, bowling, playing cards, boating, playing bocce, watching football games, traveling to Florida and being with his family.
He leaves his wife, the former Marilyn Martin whom he married Nov. 17, 1951, his son, Randy Hess of Austintown, his daughter Darlene (Joe) Zitnik of Edgewater, FL and his grandson Eric Hess of Lowellville. He is also survived by two brothers, Vernon Hess of Gilbert, AZ, Albert Hess of Cottonwood, AZ and a sister Ethel Cowdery of DeBarry, FL and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Mary Alice Mansell, Leta Hood, June Jones and a brother Raymond.
Friends may call at the Lane Funeral Home-Austintown Chapel from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Thursday and one hour prior to funeral services which will be held 11 AM Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the ALS Association of Northeastern Ohio, 2500 E. 22nd St., Suite 101, Cleveland, OH 44115, Forum Health Hospice or to the Austintown Community Church Project G.R.O.W.