Gerald Asmus

On November 16, 2024, our "Jerry Dad" passed away peacefully at St. George Regional Hospital in a room surrounded with love, after enduring multiple complications post quadruple bypass. Born May 12, 1945, to Woodrow Wilson and Larue Debenham Asmus in Salt Lake City Utah, he attended Olympus High School and Utah Technical College learning the skill of welding. Jerry married Mary Romero and together they had four children, Tresa, Patrica, Tracy, and Troy; they were later divorced. On May 6th, 1978, Jerry married Sheri Stauffer and added her three children, Kimberly, Steve, and Dustin to the mix. As Mom always said, "We were not the 'Brady Bunch', but we did our best."

Jerry was a character and had a witty sense of humor. He enjoyed life and wanted to stick around for as long as he could, but he knew that was beyond his control. He would often say, "Life is for the living; and when your time is up, it's up". He liked to travel but was not fond of flying (although it didn't stop him). He worried that he might be on the plane sitting next to someone whose time was up before his - afraid they would be the cause of his untimely demise. He had a love for cars, new and old, and owned many in his lifetime. He enjoyed boating, and some of his most memorable times were the moments he and Mom spent at Lake Powell with family and friends. He especially loved it when all the grandkids would join as he captained their boat "The Naketah." He also enjoyed golfing, bowling, yard work, gambling in Mesquite, and playing the lotto. He would often say "We're due!"

Jerry worked in the credit and collections industry, owning and operating Standard Adjustment Bureau. He enjoyed those he worked with and over the years made many lasting friendships with both clients and employees. Jerry was an enduring caregiver to our mother who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 39. We will be forever grateful for the love and compassion he showed her in her final days. We chuckled thinking of the reunion that must have taken place when he finally caught back up with her. We will never forget the impact he has had on our lives; we are better because of him. Jerry came into our life by a choice our mother made, and he stayed by a choice he made. In the words of Sara Rian,"...if nothing else, we are thankful that you were ours to lose."

He chose optimism, preferring to look at the bright side of things - always looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. He loved it when the grandchildren would come and visit and was always willing to give advice. He was an amazing listener and had great life stories to tell that also held pieces of wisdom he would share for those willing to listen. Jerry had a special connection with his grandsons, Patrick and Chase, who were fortunate to spend a lot of time with him over the years up until the very end, and they've both included some thoughts and memories:

"A Letter to My Grandpa:

'To be a man is to learn to face your imperfections and strive to grow through them.'

Grandpa Jerry was more than just a grandpa-he was my rock. During my lowest moments, I could always count on one constant: the calming, steady presence and voice of my grandpa.

I vividly remember navigating the challenges of growing up, often overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty. Yet every time I spoke with Grandpa Jerry, everything felt okay. He had a way of bringing perspective, optimism, and clarity to any situation, no matter how big or small. I was incredibly fortunate to have my grandpa as such a big part of my childhood. I can still hear the familiar sound of his truck pulling into the driveway-a sound that filled me with excitement because it meant one thing: we were going out to dinner.

Some of my happiest memories are of weekends spent "down south" in St. George. Those trips meant freedom and fun-whether it was swimming in the pool, boating, or simply enjoying meals together. Grandpa and Grandma made sure my brother and I had the time of our lives. Those memories will always hold a special place in my heart. Grandpa Jerry cared deeply about being loved, and I want him to know he was loved endlessly. He wasn't just important-he was one of the most important people in my life.

Even in his final moments, he was there for me, just as he always had been-calming me down, reassuring me, and being my rock. He was my foundation from the beginning, and he stayed that way until the very end.

I love you, Grandpa Jerry. Thank you for everything."

- Chase E. Fratto

"Gramps was the best grandpa anyone could ask for. He was always there to listen, give advice, and show us new experiences. We always wanted to be around him, and he wanted us around. Gramps had a way of making you feel comfortable and warm in conversation. You could tell him anything and he would listen. He was the type of person that you could talk to for an hour, and it would feel like 10 minutes.

Gramps will always be a blessing in our lives. I'll miss our conversations, I'll miss your stories, I'll miss your voice, I'll miss your smile, but I'll always be thankful for the time we had with you, and I will always be proud to be your grandson"

- Love Patrick Trey Fratto

Jerry is preceded in death by his wife Sheri; his parents; his daughter Patrica; and brothers, Matthew and Gary. He is survived by his children, his brother Jay and his sister Lanae, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We love you DAD and will miss you more than we know you thought we would! "Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you're loved beyond words and missed beyond measure."

In honor of his request, no service will be held; a private family celebration of life will be planned for a later date.

We would like to extend a special thank you to his son Dustin and his daughter Kim for the loving care and support they provided throughout the years, especially after mom passed. We know he appreciated it and would often say as much. We would also like to thank the staff at St. George Rehabilitation Center for their care and support, and the many nurses, respiratory therapists, and doctors at St. George Regional Hospital for their expert care. Jerry made an impression wherever he went. When he would be transferred from the ICU and back, it was fun to see how many staff members would volunteer to be his escort - often so many that they could barely fit in the elevator! He certainly got a kick out of all the attention.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary. 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to share memories on Jerry's digital memorial page at www.SpilsburyMortuary.com