Gerald F. Kukla

Gerald "Jerry" F. Kukla, of Bay City, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, May 1, 2016 after 79 years.  The son of the late Frank and Gladys (Szczepanski) Kukla, he was born on November 15, 1936 in Bay City.  Jerry was a member of Corpus Christi Parish - Holy Trinity Church.  He worked at General Motors, Bay City Milling and retired from Saginaw County Division on Aging.  He enjoyed fishing, golf, gambling and playing cards with family and friends.  Jerry was a devoted family man who cherished the time he spent with his kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and adored being Papa to Brayden and Laney.

On August 23, 1976 Jerry married the former Margaret L. Blain and she survives him along with 6 children, Bryan (Tiffany) Kukla, Michelle (Henry) Ritter, Gerald "Butch" Kukla, Sandy (Marshall) Bean, Scott Walraven and Christopher (Shannon) Jacobs; 12 grandchildren, Brayden Kukla, Laney Kukla, Tanya Edwards, David Powell, Henry (Kristi) Ritter, Andrea (T.J.) Marshall, Christina Richards, Haley Bean, Ethan Bean, Christopher Jacobs, Jr., Heather (Gabriel) Carmona, and Jeremy Jacobs; 5 great-grandchildren, Owen, Cole and Kami Ritter and Chasen and Kenzee Marshall; two sisters, Jacqueline Kukla and Diane (Thomas) Schroeder; three brothers, Ronald Kukla, Theodore Kukla and Thomas (Delores) Kukla; sisters-in-law, Arlene Kukla and Judith (William) Martyn; and several nieces and nephews.  Besides his parents, Jerry was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Annette Marie Walraven; a daughter-in-law, Melisa Kukla; brothers, Edward James Kukla, Robert Kukla, and Michael Kukla; sisters-in-law, Pearl Kukla, Carol Kukla and Linda Kukla; and his father and mother-in-law, Russell and Louisa Fogelsonger.

The Funeral Liturgy and Rite of Committal will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016 at Corpus Christi Parish - Holy Trinity Church.  The Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Robert S. Gohm.  Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home on Thursday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the Parish Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Mr. Kukla will lie instate at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Memorial contributions may be made to the wishes of the family. www.gephartfuneralhome.com