Gerald Bean Obituary

Gerald "Jerry" Bean

April 27, 1940

January 3, 2022



Gerald Bean

April 27, 1940 – January 3, 2022



A Godly Man, a Generous Man, a Cherished Husband, a Devoted Dad, a Gentle Grandfather, a Trusted Friend, a Helping Hand, an Optimist, a Jovial Personality.



These are words describing Jerry Bean. He was born in Aurora, IL, to Roy Bean and Pearl Uting. After graduating from West Aurora High School, he attended the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and graduated with an engineering degree in Fire Protection and Safety in 1962. Beginning during his years as a college student, he became a volunteer with the Chicago Fire and Rescue Service. He was employed for 30 years after graduation by Alexander & Alexander where he was a fire protection consultant for their commercial clients. Later he became a member of the Lombard, IL, volunteer fire department. He always said that as an FPE it was his job to prevent fires, but if a fire was already burning, he'd be there to help put it out.



In 1960 while attending a college social event, he met Doris Schauland, a student nurse who was studying at Michael Reese Hospital just 6 blocks away from IIT, and it didn't take long for them to decide that they were meant for each other. Student nurses were not allowed to be married back then so the wedding didn't happen until she graduated in1963. It was a joyous occasion at Calvary Baptist Church in Muscatine, IA.



They welcomed Marilyn, born in 1965 and Linda, born in 1969. The girls quickly became "Daddy's girls" as he devoted his heart to them the moment they were born. As they grew, Jerry could always be found at Linda's junior high and high school sports events, sometimes wrapped in a blanket and sitting in a lawn chair in the snow and cheering during her softball games. Marilyn has always been the artistic, creative one, and Dad was often the beneficiary of her talent. In 2014, we added an adult daughter, Debbie, to our family. After Marilyn graduated from a nursing program in Ohio, she married Stephen Cooper, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, and away they "flew" for 20 years as a USAF family. Jerry loved and admired Stephen. The other special girl, "Grampy's girl" Emily, has announced that she and Dustin will be presenting the family with a great grandchild in the summer.



Jerry was always a cheerful volunteer at heart. He enjoyed years of service at Camp Manitoumi, a Baptist camp in IL where he was known as Leaf Man. While the kids sat around the campfire at night, he would burst out of the trees in his costume covered with leaves. In spite of that, he was invited to serve for 12 years on the Camp Manitoumi board of directors.



He was pleased to serve numerous terms as a deacon and leader at Grace Baptist Church in Lombard, IL.



He had a heart for directing Awana Clubs, a Christian youth program, for more than 20 years and later served several more years on the board of directors of Awana Clubs International, overseeing Awana home missions.



Every spring, Jerry planted morning glory seeds in our backyard, and he would proudly announce when the first glorious blue flower was open. So we'll plant again and wait for that first blue flower to open.



It would please Jerry very much if his friends would donate a memorial gift to the Awana ministry.



Donations can be made online or by mail to:



https://www.awana.org Follow the prompts.



OR



Awana Clubs International

1 East Bode Road

Streamwood IL, 60107

*Please include a note designating Jerry Bean memorial.