Jerome "Jerry" Birch

Jerome “Jerry” Birch, 75, of Nampa, a long-time real-estate agent, assessor and aviation aficionado from Nampa whose ebullient sense of humor and zest for living made friends of everyone he met. He passed away from natural causes at a Nampa care facility on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015.

A Funeral Service to honor and celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. So. – 442-8171. The family will greet friends and loved ones at the funeral home on Wednesday morning from 9:30 until 10:15 AM. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com.

Always a large man, Jerry had a big personality to match. Never without a joke, his bright blue eyes would light up at the chance to tease a friend or colleague, or tell stories about the characters he encountered while growing up in Chicago — where he played drums in a band as a young man. He seemed to know everybody, and everybody seemed to know him.

Born on April 20, 1940 to Casimir and Margaret Brzozowski, Jerry attended Lane Tech High School and Wright Junior College in Chicago — he recalled once playing high-school football against the legendary Dick Butkus — and became a real-estate broker in Illinois before moving to Idaho, for a woman.

Jerry married Judy Lewis in Nampa on Valentine’s Day in 1992, having become re-acquainted with his childhood friend after each of them had divorced. They had lived in the same neighborhood and attended the same church and grammar school in Chicago years earlier, and had been married 23 years when he died Oct. 2.

Upon moving to Idaho, Jerry became a deputy assessor for Ada County, and indulged his passion for oil painting, collecting World War II memorabilia, and stockpiling McDonald’s tchotchkes. After he retired, he loved to volunteer his time at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa. He also was a member of the Nampa Elks Lodge No. 1389, and loved to go out dancing with Judy before his health began to decline in later years.

Jerry is survived by his wife Judy, his son Jeff Gattuso, his step-children Michael Lewis (Janna) and Susanne Kerns (Chris), as well as his four grandchildren whom he adored: Zoe, Sam, Fiona and Lucy. The family is grateful to Horizon Rehab & Hospice, who helped care for Jerry in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Warhawk Air Museum, 201 Municipal Way, Nampa, ID, 83687.

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