Gerald Arthur Michael

Gerald “Jerry” Arthur Michael passed away on January 27, 2025 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Jerry was born at home on March 3, 1947, the son of the late Arlueen Ruhl Michael and the late Arthur C. Michael of Fairview Pennsylvania.

He was a 1965 graduate of Fairview High School and started his career at Nason Men’s Clothing in Girard, then worked as a produce manager at Weislogel Shur-Fine in Fairview and finished his career as a salesman for GR Bennett in Willimas, New York.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife Susan Exley Michael, whom he married in 1972 at Fairview United Methodist Church, where they were members for many years. They enjoyed 52+ years of marriage, later joining the Girard Methodist Church.

He is survived by his sister Gail (Charles) Swartwood, sister-in-laws Linda (Robert) Gisczinski, Patricia Smith, Edie Exley, Carla (Brian) Wilson, and brother-in-law Mark Rand.

He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, Michael (Denise) Swartwood, Ryan (Allison) Swartwood, Lindsay (John) Patterson, Joanna (Ed) States, Carl (Angela) Bean, Thomas (Melissa) Bean, Amanda (Shannon) Barnett, Nathan (Lisa) Bean, Cyndi, Laura and Robert Gisczinski, Melissa (Eric) Forster, Eric (Sarah) Rand, Joseph (Heather) Rand, Marcus Rand, William (Lindsay) Rand, and Sarah Dennis (Mark Hawley) and many great nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, His mother and father-in-law Edith (Jean) and William Exley, sister-in-law Mary Bean and her husband Thomas, sister-in-law Betty Lou Rand and brother-in-law Gene Smith.

Jerry’s childhood friend Ron Weislogel and his wife Kathy were an enormous source of support during Jerry’s many health challenges over the years. They were lifelong friends and always stepped in to help – bringing levity to some difficult days, right to the very last breath.

Jerry was a member of the Fairview Fire Department when he was in his twenties, until his health prevented his service. He had a great love of model trains, NASCAR, Westerns, Dirt track racing, and traveled on a memorable trip to Hawaii with their good friends David and Cheryl Trost. He was very proud of being from Fairview his whole life. 

He gained much joy out of buying “real” fireworks to entertain the cousins at Kelso Beach when they came to visit in the summer. He also provided some great phone calls from “Santa” to the little ones causing a lot of concern over whether they had been good or bad that year.

The family would like to thank the Hospice staff for their support and the wonderful staff of St. Mary’s West for the fabulous care that they gave to Jerry in his brief stay there. You treated him with respect and dignity, while providing comfort in those last days. We would also like to thank West County Paramedics and the Fairview Fire department for your assistance.

Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main Street East, Girard, on Friday from 4:00pm until 7:00pm and on Saturday from 10:00am until the time of service at 11:00am. Burial at Fairview Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Fairview Fire and Rescue, Girard United Methodist Church, ANNA Shelter, West County Paramedic Association or Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA).

Send condolences at www.BurtonQuinnScott.com.