Jerry Flint

Jerry Edward Flint, age 73 years of Niles, Michigan died at 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016 surrounded by family in his living room at home following an extended illness.

He was born on August 31, 1943 at home in Niles to Walter C. and Velma (Harris) Flint. He was graduated from Niles High School where he enjoyed playing basketball, and has lived in Niles all of his life. He was first employed for twenty-one years at the former Buchanan, Michigan plant of the Clark Equipment Company, and then was retired after eleven years of employment at Niles Community Schools.

Jerry enjoyed hunting and fishing, often at a summer cottage at the Decatur Eagle Lake. He also enjoyed mushroom hunting, with his successes earning him the title of “Morel Man” in area newspapers, and more recently has been enjoying the fellowship of fellow retirees at coffee at Martin’s. He had volunteered at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA as an aide to the elementary school swimming classes. As a young man, he raced at the Martin (Michigan) Dragway – now known as US 131 Motorsports Park – and volunteered as a coach of the Brandywine Midget League Basketball “Knicks”.

He was previously married to Terry Martin, and was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Eugene, Bill, Joe, Duane, and Richard Flint, Shirley Bryant, Kathryn Finley, and a 3 year old brother; and by his 13 year old daughter, Sara R. Flint who died on May 27, 1991. Sara was known as a shadow to her father, and he longed for his reunion with her.

Surviving family includes his children, Theresa (& Duffy) Suseland of Niles and Damon (& Christine) Flint of Morristown, New Jersey; grandchildren Hunter and Harrison Flint; and Jerry’s sisters, Beverly Austin of Niles and Sharon Hill of Sturgis, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews including Sylvia Perkins, who was nearly his age, and a best friend.

The funeral service for Jerry Flint will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating. Committal will be at Mission Hills.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Jerry may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.