Jerome "Jerry" J Schock

Jerome Jordan Schock passed away peacefully on January 7, 2025 at his home after a 13-year journey with multiple myeloma with a secondary diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. He passed away quietly with his wife, Jill and son, Mike by his side, just minutes after other family and friends had left after visiting him.

Jerry was born in Minot, ND to parents, Emil and Verna Schock. He grew up on his family’s farm outside of Velva, ND. While in high school he played football (was a Vikings fan!) and an accomplished trumpet player. After high school he went to the University of Montana to study forestry. After two years, with the draft nearing, he decided to join the Navy. Once in the Navy he joined the submarine force. He served 6 years on active duty and 20 years as a reservist. He made the rank of Chief Petty Officer while in the reserves. After he left active Navy duty, he worked at a small greenhouse and later became a civilian worker at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He finished the apprentice program and worked on submarines as an electronics technician. Later he moved to the instructor code and taught electronic processes and safety as well as the Sub Safe Program. Jerry was a member of Thresher Base, Sub Vet organization. He served as their Eagle Scout coordinator. One of Jerry’s favorite places to support and visit was Warriors@45 North, an organization that supports veterans by giving them a respite location in Northern New Hampshire.

Jerry was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America as an adult leader. He served as a scoutmaster for troop 158 in Portsmouth. He was also active on the district and state level as a trainer for outdoor programs and served a scoutmaster for a Woodbadge course. Both he and his wife, Jill, served on several National Jamboree staffs and NOAC (Order of the Arrow) staffs.

Jerry was an active member with his wife at their church, Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newington. It was a rare occasion that you would not see them helping at Sunday morning services. They both completed the NE Synod’s School of Lay Ministry together. One of his favorite activities was to help serve at the soup kitchen that our church hosted monthly. He was known as the “Cookie Man” because he would bag the cookies in small bags and then pass them out to those we served.

Other activities that Jerry enjoyed was volunteering at the Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, NH. He had been honored to join the Black Thunder Drum as a singer. It was an honor that he cherished. He was a member of their Pow Wow committee and helped at other events held at the museum.

One of Jerry and Jill’s favorite activities were hiking wherever they traveled. They did several hikes in the White Mountains of NH. One of their favorites was Piazza Rock south of Rangely, Maine. Hiking and being in nature was one of ways that helped him to remember to live well while having cancer.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Jill and five sons that they shared: Mike, Danny, Brian, Josh, and Ryan as well as their wives or girlfriends, Bridget, Sarah, Liz, and Rory. With our blended family we had 11 grandchildren that he adored: Tabby, Eddie, Chris, AJ, Abby, Lochlan, Finnley, Carter, Collin, Dylan, and Chase. He is also survived by his mother Verna, who just turned 100 and his brother Joey and his wife, Mardi. His ND family also includes several nieces and nephews as well as cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 2 pm at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newington, NH. The service with also be live streamed by the church via a special link which will be shared at a later date. Contact Jill if you need it. Refreshments to follow provided by Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

For those who knew Jerry, he loved Jimmy Buffet so feel free to wear a Hawaiian shirt to honor him if you choose. Also, any uniform that connects you to Jerry is more than appropriate, but not required. The family hopes that you will join them to celebrate an amazing man that touched many lives throughout his life. He will be missed but not forgotten. Fair winds and following seas, we have the watch.

Jill and her family would like to thank all the friends and family that have supported them on this 13-year journey. You have all made it easier for them to travel down this path, no matter what laid ahead on the trail. You all hold a special place in our hearts.

To view a PowerPoint presentation, please use the link below.

https://1drv.ms/p/s!AqlO7sDz9gpxieVJ_0hWJwlf_2Z92Q?e=Xev17Jv 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the following organizations in Jerry’s memory.

International Myeloma Foundation: https://www.myeloma.org/

Fisher House of Boston: https://fisherhouseboston.org/

Amy’s Treat: https://amystreat.org/

Warriors@45 North: https://www.facebook.com/W45North/about

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5X2V9WSL334HC

Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (for the Dover Friendly Kitchen fund) https://www.htelc.com/