Gerard "Jerry" J. Fortier

Gerard "Jerry" Joseph Fortier, 89, of Willimantic, died on January 26, 2012 at Windham Hospital. Born on May 12, 1922, he was the son of the late Ferdinand "Fred" Fortier and Lodia (Caisse) Fortier Fryer. Jerry was a lifelong resident of Willimantic and was married for nearly sixty-five years to the love of his life, Agnes (Eichner) Fortier formerly of Coventry. Jerry joined the National Guard at the age of seventeen. He was called into active duty in February 1940 and fought in the Pacific Campaign during World War II. As a member of the 3rd Battalion, 169th Infantry, 43rd Division, he was the recipient of ten medals including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Jerry was wounded in action during the Battle of New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. He was cited for bravery when he returned, under heavy fire, to retrieve a wounded comrade. Jerry was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1945. He was extremely proud of his service to his country and surrounded himself with many memories representative of his years of service. Jerry returned to Willimantic where he was employed by Fryer's Trucking for twenty-four years and then worked another twenty years at Republic Oil. After retiring he worked part time as a courier for the Windham Hospital laboratory. In addition to his wife, Jerry is survived by five daughters and ten grandchildren, Cynthia Lazar and husband Robert of Munford, Tennessee, grandsons Jeremy and Jeffrey Dembinski; Sandra Philips and husband Evan of Windham Center, grandsons Brian and Kevin Philips; Linda Jennings of Manchester and grandson Joseph Jennings; Aleena Rambush of Madisonville, Tennessee, and grandsons Christopher Rambush and Jason Kelley and granddaughter Christen Boisse; Tina Lambert and husband Walter of Mansfield, grandson Todd and granddaughter Alyssa and four great grandchildren. He also is survived by a brother, Ronald Fryer of Englewood, Florida, and two sisters, Marie Parker of Broad Brook, and Gloria Jolie of Columbia. He was predeceased by a sister, Reverend Mother Elodie, Sisters of Charity, Baltic. His family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday January 29, 2012 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at Potter Funeral Home, 465 Jackson Street (Route 195), Willimantic. His Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Church, Valley St. Willimantic, on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with assembly at the church. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery with full military honors. For those wishing to make a memorial donation, Jerry's family suggests St. Mary Church, 80 Maple Ave., Willimantic, Ct. 06226. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .