Gerald J. "Jerry" Venhaus, age 79 of Pontoon Beach, IL, formerly of Breese, IL, passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL.

Jerry was born August 1, 1942, in Breese, IL to the late Leo and Elizabeth (nee Niebur ) Venhaus.  He married the love of his life, Patricia "Pat" Boevingloh, on May 3, 1966, in Germantown, IL.

He served in the Army National Guard as a medic during the Vietnam era.  A meat cutter by trade, he worked for several stores including the former Shopland in Belleville, Target Foods, and retired from Super Valu.  Jerry and Pat were the former owners and operators of the Venhaus A.G. Grocery Store in Breese.  After retiring, he worked part-time for Arthur Bertell as a marketing representative.

Jerry was very active in the community.  He was a past Grand Knight for the Breese Knights of Columbus Council #2869, member of the Collinsville Knights of Columbus Council #1712, served on the Board of Columbian Associates in Collinsville, past President of the Breese Lions Club, past President of St. Augustine Parish Council, and member of Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Maryville.

He always made time for others.  He coached Little League Baseball, T-ball and attended his grandkids' sporting events.  He was an avid golfer, loved traveling, playing cards and Manhattan's.  He always had a smile to give or a hand to lend.  He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, favorite uncle, and friend.  He will be dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Donald Venhaus; mother and father-in-law, Regina and Tony Boevingloh; three brothers-in-law:  Joe Hoelscher, Robert Kniepmann, and Corny (Bernice) Kniepmann; two sisters-in-law:  Dorothy (Karl) Haselhorst and Mary (Bill) Ryan.

Surviving is his loving wife of 55 years, Patricia Venhaus; four children:  Kelly (Steve) Buehne of Maryville, IL, Kimberly (Richard) Green of St. Louis, MO, Kurt (Blas) Venhaus of Chicago, IL and Kevin (Cheryl) Venhaus of Highland, IL; 12 grandchildren:  Allie (Weston), Cole (Ellie), Chandler, and Antoinette Buehne, Noah, Dylan and Trevor Green, Karma and Lavon Venhaus, Taylor, Kate and Adeline Venhaus; two sisters:  Ruth (Gerald) Von Alst of Belleville, IL and Joann Hoelscher of Breese, IL; sister-in-law, Lou Ann Venhaus of St. Louis, MO; brother-in-law, Jim Kniepmann of St. Louis, MO; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Memorial visitation will be 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 2022, at Barry Wilson Funeral Home, 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.

Memorial mass will be at 1 p.m. at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 200 N. Lange, Maryville, IL 62062 with Father Rob Johnson celebrant.  Private burial will be in Saint Boniface Cemetery, Germantown, IL.

Memorials may be made in Jerry's honor to the National Kidney Foundation or National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to the funeral home.