Gerald "Jerry" Lasher

Visitation: 2 to 8 p.m., Monday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at our Simpson Chapel. & 9 a.m. to Mass time Tuesday at the church.

Services: 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery with Full Military Rites.

Gerald “Jerry” Lasher was called to eternal life on April 9, 2017 while at home surrounded by family and loved ones.

Born to Ann (Titzer) and James Lasher on March 28, 1936, he was the oldest of four, including David, Becky and Steve. Jerry wholeheartedly embraced his role as big brother. Among other things, he insured all his siblings developed a sense of humor, whether they liked it or not.  

After graduating from Memorial High School, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and was stationed in both Germany and Italy in support of the European occupation. After two years of service, he returned home in 1956. At a Catholic youth volleyball game, he met the love of his life, Mary Anne Petrig (d. 2015). He was immediately smitten with her, and convinced her to marry him in 1958. Married for 57 years, they were lifetime members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and raised 5 children: Beth (Frank) Bender, Richard (Dona) Lasher, Jill (Roger) Murphy, Mary Jane (Charlie, Jr.) Will, and Fred (Amy) Lasher. 

After his time in uniform, Jerry joined the Carpenters Union Local 90. Over the years, he worked his way up to serving as job superintendent for Deig Brothers Construction where he oversaw and directed the construction of local schools, banks, churches and other community landmarks.

Just over five years into their marriage and confident with his abilities as a young tradesman, Jerry set about building a home for their family. He finished the basement first. They would live there while finishing the second story of the house brick by brick as the money came in. Though frugal and pragmatic as a young father, Jerry bucked reason and bought a boat with the clear intention of carving out time to make memories on the Ohio River with his family and close friends. 

 If Jerry had a motto in life, it would be, "Your family is your greatest gift…take care of them.”

In addition to camping and boating along the banks of the river, Jerry spent summers cultivating a garden full of vegetables, teaching those he loved the value of hard work and the joy of sharing a bountiful harvest. His passion for growing eventually brought on exciting ventures in retirement when he and Mary Anne dedicated themselves to bringing Grandview Orchard to life in Spencer County. The orchard became another catalyst for strengthening family bonds as their children and grandchildren joined in on the harvests and helped make wine from the abundant grapes, cherries, apples and peaches.

Jerry loved family and friends in his own special way. Some may have called him ornery, but it was clear ⎯ those he loved most he gave the hardest time. Among other traditions, he specialized in organizing memorable initiations for those seeking to marry into his family. He was the ultimate test of whether or not a significant other was worth walking down the aisle (that is: had a sense of humor.)

Jerry also loved to fish. Aside from filling his freezer in preparation for his seasonal and festive fish fries, time out on the water and away from the world was designed to bond with those he loved. He spent time fishing with each of his grandkids, teaching them the ins and outs of how to tie the best knot, hook a worm, cast a line and, often times inadvertently, the art of how to craft a big fish story.

 The life he lived, the laughter he shared and the love he gave lives on in the family he was so proud of.

He is survived by his children and their spouses along with his sister, Rebecca Rygh (Alan Nichols) of San Francisco, CA, sister-in-law, Barbara Lasher, Tell City, IN and brother, Steven (Barbara) Lasher of Greenwood, IN. Also surviving are his brothers-in-law, Joe (Esther) Petrig, John (Maggie) Petrig, Robert (Ethelene) Petrig, Mike (Nancy) Petrig all of Evansville and Paul Petrig of Zelienople, PA. He is survived by his grandchildren Holly O'Neill, Jan Michael Bender, Katie Bender, Dale Bender, Drew Lasher, Whitney Richard, Clinton Will, Zachary Will, Charley Anne Will, Aaron Murphy, Kacy Murphy, Isaac Lasher and Avery Lasher and eleven great-grandchildren. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 625 Frame Rd., Newburgh, Ind.  Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery with Full Military Rites.

Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m., Monday, April 17, 2017, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Titzer Family Funeral Homes, Simpson Chapel, 510 W. Jennings St., Newburgh, Ind., (812) 853-8314.  Additional visitation will be 9 a.m. to Mass time Tuesday at the church.  Sympathy wishes to the family may be shared atwww.titzerfuneralhomes.com.