Gerald M. Satterfield

Gerald Maynard “Jerry’’ Satterfield, a loving husband, proud father, and doting grandfather, died March 12, 2022 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL, after a short illness.

One of five sons born on January 4th, 1938 to dairy farmers Leonard and Margaret Satterfield of Mount Morris, Illinois, Jerry learned from an early age the value of hard work. As a young man, he began to build his life around three tenets: strong family; enduring faith; and meaningful work.

Jerry married the love of his life, Shirley Heckman, in 1956. The couple began their married life while Jerry served for two years in the U.S. Marine Corps. They were married for 65 years. They raised their six sons and one daughter in Oregon, Il before moving to Rockford, IL in 1991.

Jerry encouraged each of his children to pursue a college degree. Among his children’s many accomplishments are 11 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Jerry's involvement in his children's schooling went beyond coaching sports and attending extracurricular events. For many years as a young man, while his children attended the Oregon Public School system, he served on the School Board. Once his youngest child graduated from college, Jerry pursued for himself his long-sought college education, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Cardinal Stritch University.

After the birth of his fourth son, Jerry converted to Catholicism, a faith that he devoted himself to until the moment he died. He became a regular lector and Eucharist Minister in the church. He committed himself to Christian ideals, including regular visits for years to a local nursing home to offer companionship to the residents.

Jerry’s work career began at a Carnation Milk factory in Oregon, Illinois. With mouths to feed, he worked at least two jobs for the first 10 years of his working life. He spent most of his career at Sundstrand Aviation, now Collins Aerospace, where he made a name for himself as assembly manager, quality manager, and manufacturing manager. Jerry had a reputation for holding his colleagues and employees to a high standard of work, a standard that he himself strived to meet every day. He was always honest and fair, qualities for which he was highly respected. Many of the lifelong friends he made were work colleagues, a testament to his reputation at Sundstrand.

Jerry never met a person he did not embrace with his love of life. He spoke often of his love for each of his family members throughout his life. He loved a good cigar, occasional beer, and many rounds of golf with his sons and golf buddies. He also enjoyed teaching and challenging his kids and grandkids to a game or four of cribbage.

Jerry is survived by his wife Shirley, sons Dan (Batavia, IL), Dave (Anabelle/Tampa FL), Tom (Rhonda/Pacifica CA), Tim (Tami/Louisville CO), Randy (Beth/Fitchburg, WI), Ryan (Beth/Chicago, IL), daughter Kim (Mike Carbone/Rockford IL.) and bonus son, AFS student who lived with them for a year, Carlos Bordon (Paraguay) and 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is predeceased in death by his parents and four brothers, Richard, Donald, Marvin, and Roger.

A visitation will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 3004 11th Street, Rockford, Illinois 61109 with a fellowship to follow. A special thank you to Dr. King, his interns, and the nurses at UW/Swedish American Hospital, and the entire staff at Serenity Hospice and Home, Oregon Il. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Serenity Hospice and Home (serenityhospiceandhome.org) or to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org/donate). To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com