Gerald M. Balmes

Visitation for Gerald (Jerry) Balmes, will be held at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home 415 S. Buesching Rd, Lake Zurich, on Monday, February 14, 2022 from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. Funeral Services will begin with a Funeral Mass being said at 9:30a.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2022 also at the funeral home and proceed to Saint Peter Cemetery, 27551 Volo Village Road, Volo, IL.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Jerry on Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Jerry was born in Barrington, IL on October 1, 1928 to Peter and Catherine Balmes. Jerry is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Maureen O’Brien Balmes, granddaughter Kimberly, siblings Bernadine (Harry) Patricia (Irvin), Robert (June), Ruth (Newt) and is survived by his beloved children Lynda, David, Laura and Peter (Christina), grandchildren Ryan, Kelly, Kristen (Adam), Kaaren, Andrew, Joshua, and Alexandra, and 9 great-grandchildren.

With the loss of his parents at age four, he was raised by his aunt’s and would frequently reminisce about the large family dinners he had with his cousins.  He served his Country in the Army Air Corp from 1950-1952. Jerry was a devoted, loving, husband and father who always put his family first.  His dog Neko came into his life many years ago and became another member of the family that he loved with his whole heart.  Neko got any chair in the house, including his.

There were so many things in life that he was passionate about.  He was a devout Traditional Catholic, avid golfer, loved to watch old Westerns and work on tractors.  He also adored children and seeing their smiles.  He made many ice-skating rinks in the back yard for all the neighborhood kids to have fun on and he would hitch up a trailer to the lawn mower and take them around the block for rides.

The things he loved goes on! Motorcycles, scooters, trucks, planes, tractors, lawnmowers, snowblowers and even the jobber.  If it had an engine, he loved it.  As a Mechanic and Entrepreneur who ran his own heavy machine repair company, he was able to spend his life working on the machines he loved so much.  Jerry always had a pickup truck that he refurbished.  While driving pickup truck #1 he was working on pickup truck #2, making sure he had a backup ready to go!  There was always a hydraulic winch on that pickup too.  When asked why, he would say, “well you would be surprised how handy it is”.

On the weekends he could be found on a boat fishing or up in the air flying his Cessna with his best friend Bob Carlson.  He was an amazing pilot and boater!  Many 4th of July’s were spent on the Chain-O-Lakes throwing firecrackers in the water and watching the fireworks at night.

Jerry will be missed by every life he touched and remembered for his never veering love and devotion.