Jerome L. “Jerry” Riley

Jerome L. “Jerry” Riley, 91, Woodstock, died Friday, April 20, 2018, at JourneyCare Hospice in Woodstock.

He was born Nov. 17, 1926, in Ferndale, Michigan, to William H. and Clara Eve (Cardinal) Riley.  He married Patricia J. Dittman Sept. 15, 1951, in Woodstock.

Jerry was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army, having seen service with HQ 9th Troop Reg GP from 1945 to 1947. He had worked for the family business of Riley and Riley Mobil from 1950 to 1972. In 1972, he went to work at the other family business, Dittman Plumbing & Heating, until he retired in 1991. He was a charter member and unit rep for Woodstock Boy Scouts Troop 776. Jerry enjoyed traveling with Patty in their RV, golfing, reading, and baseball. He even joined a softball league in his retirement.

He had a great passion for woodworking. He and his friend, Albert Idler, could be found most days in his basement, which was a menagerie of woodworking tools. They worked on many projects for St. Mary Church, as well as family and friends.

He was a member of St. Mary Church; Woodstock Knights of Columbus, for which he had been treasurer; and Woodstock VFW Post 5040, where he participated in the honor guard.

He is survived by four children, Leo (Christine) Riley of Woodstock, Timothy Riley of Harvard, Bridget (Craig) Parman of West Brook, Connecticut, and Colleen (Frank) Gosser of Woodstock; 10 grandchildren, Meghan, Aaron, Christopher, Ian, Ryan, Alison, Kelly, Wes, Jeremy, and Alex; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Audrey Meyer; a sister-in-law, Mary Lee Klabunde; a brother-in-law, William Dittman; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Patricia, in 2005; four brothers, Gordon, Donald, William, and David; three sisters, Mary T. McCarthy, Shirley Rose, and Phyllis Vintz; and an infant grandson, Roger Hahn.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock, with a wake service at 6 p.m.

Services will continue Thursday, April 26, at St. Mary Catholic Church, with a gathering from 9:30 until the 11 a.m. Mass. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Woodstock.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary Church, JourneyCare Hospice, or Woodstock VFW.