Gerald Allen Bitter

JANESVILLE—Gerald Allen Bitter, age 82, of Janesville, passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital.

He was born in Janesville on March 2, 1930, the son of Albert and Reginia (Mohr) Bitter. He graduated from Janesville High school in 1948, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

Jerry and Marilyn Warner were married on Nov. 24, 1951, in Fort Jackson, SC. After his discharge from the Army, he was re-employed at Ridge Automotive Company, and in 1965 he purchased the business and retired after 52 years. Jerry loved cars and at one time he owned 6 vintage Corvairs. He enjoyed traveling and had a cottage on Lake Nokomis near Tomahawk, WI. He also was an avid flyer and owned his own airplane. One of the biggest joys was to fly anywhere at any time.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn Bitter; 2 sons, Thomas (fiancée Joanne Ehlert) Bitter and his son, Nathan, and David (Kathleen) Bitter and their 3 children, Alyson, Joshua and Emma. He was extremely proud of them all.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 4, 2012, at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.

A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY.

Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Lasting memorials may be made to Rotary Gardens or the Music Department at Craig High School.

A special thanks to all the caregivers at Our House Assisted Living, Cedar Crest, Inc., St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital and Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. for their care and thoughtfulness to Jerry and his family.