Gerald N. St. John

GARDNER - Gerald N. "Jerry" St. John, 70, of 204 Willis Road, a retired City of Gardner Police Officer, died unexpectedly Tuesday morning, July 13th in Heywood Hospital, Gardner. He was born in Gardner on March 20, 1940, the son of the late Ernest and Lina (Martin) St. John and was a lifelong resident of Gardner. Jerry was a 1958 graduate of Gardner High School and operated the family business, the former St. John's Oil Company for several years. He later became a Patrolman for the City of Gardner Police Department, where he worked for 27 years until his retirement in 1994. He had served in Army National Guard for six months and then was a member of the Reserves for several years. He was a member and former Eucharistic minister of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church. He also was a member of its League of Sacred Heart. Jerry was a member of the Gardner Lions Club for many years and served as its King Lion in 1990. He was honored as the club's Lion of the Year twice and received the distinguished Joseph J. Camarda Fellowship Award in 1998. He enjoyed hunting, traveling with his wife and especially loved spending time with his family. He leaves his wife of 47 years, Doris H. (St. Hilaire) St. John; two daughters, Denise M. Raymond and her husband Jeffrey of Athol and Michelle M. Salvanelli and her husband Jeffrey of Gardner and five grandchildren, Matthew Salvanelli, James Salvanelli, Elizabeth Raymond, Jonathan Raymond and William Raymond. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 19th from Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. in Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Gardner. Calling hours in the funeral home are Sunday, July 18th from 5 to 8 P.M. Memorial donations may be made to Gardner Lions Club Charities, PO Box 483, Gardner, MA 01440 or to Adult Day Health at the Highlands, 335 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA. 01420. www.stone-ladeau.com