Gerald "Jerry" Dean Donaldson

Gerald "Jerry" Dean Donaldson, age 72, of Ellenton FL, formerly of McDonald PA, passed on Sunday, August 23, 2026 in his home.

He was born June 10, 1954 in Imperial PA; a son of the late Andrew and Donna Haines Donaldson. Growing up in the country in Bulger PA, one of 9 children, he and his siblings, especially the boys, found creative ways of occupying their time in their youth. From sled riding in the winter time on the hoods of cars from a nearby junkyard to building an entire 1 room cabin in the woods on the hill above their home, using the bench seats from that same junkyard as furniture. Being they all grew up in a small 3 bedroom cabin when they were old enough and a kitchen had been added to the cabin they secretly built an entire room on top of that addition without the knowledge of their parents. If it weren't for cutting the electric line in the process of their build they may never have been discovered. Their mother was grateful for their work when she did discover the additional room and not angry as they had expected. Jerry and his brothers taught themselves carpentry and mechanical skills that he retained throughout his life. He became quite the handyman and mechanic with that self taught knowledge being able to take very little and making it into something worth having.

He graduated from Fort Cherry High School in 1972 where he first crossed paths with his future wife Vicki "Sis" Cook. He and Sis would unite in holy matrimony on September 13, 1975 and stay happily married for 39 years, raising 2 daughters in the process until her untimely passing on July 19, 2015. He would find love again when he met Michele Kitzman, whom he married on April 2, 2020. He and Michele would purchase a home in Ellenton FL, where they happily resided until his passing. In the union of he and Michele he gained the additional blessing of 3 step children, whom he loved very deeply, and a faithful fur baby named Yoda. 

He started his career as a laborer for Sofis Company Inc. in Clinton, PA. in June of 1975, where he would retire from as a Superintendent after 30 years of employment. He was a Member of the Laborers Union and Bricklayer Unions. He also was an ACI certified Nozzleman for Shotcrete. He was known by his employees as a kind and fair boss who would make it a point to thank the guys at the completion of a job. One of the owners of Sofis Company Inc. said that the gesture of thanking the employees was one of the most important lessons in life that he had learned from Jerry.

He enjoyed many fishing trips through the years with his brothers and many extremely loud Steeler Football games as he was a lifelong fan of the black and gold. Many Sundays were spent in front of the TV cheering on his favorite team or tailgating at Three Rivers Stadium. He was involved in many other activities throughout his life including being involved with a dart league, hook league and a softball team in which he was the pitcher. He owned various motorcycles in his younger years but was never as smitten with any of them as he was with his very first Harley Davidson. He loved the look and representation of the dragon (wisdom, personal power and profound transformation) and had a custom paint job of dragons painted on both of the Harley Davidson's that he would own. He traveled with friends through the years vacationing at various bike weeks and events throughout the country including Daytona Beach, Myrtle Beach, Sturgis and multiple Easyrider rodeos.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Kairy (Bill) Donaldson-Moss and LeAnn (George) Beck; two grandchildren, Alyssa Robinson and Andrew Moss; three step children; Shelby (Jeff) Studeny, DJ (Caitlyn) Schibner, and Savannah (Wyatt) Curtis; nine step grandchildren, Jamie and Loreali Studeny, Livi, Leah, Lane, Alayna and Anaya Schibner, June and Lilly Curtis; three sisters, Betty (Ken) Cox, Donna Sowinski and Karen Andrews; two brothers, Dennis (Bunny) and James Donaldson; two sisters in law Theresa and Betty Donaldson as well as many nieces, nephews and countless friends.

Deceased in addition to his parents, and first wife, are a sister Bonnie Sowinski, two brothers Tim and Sam Donaldson.

A Memorial Gathering will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2026 from Noon to 2:45PM  at Graff-Nation Funeral and Cremation Service LLC. 220 E. Lincoln Ave. McDonald, PA. 15057. A Memorial Service will begin at 2:45PM immediately following the Gathering. A committal Service will follow at Robinson Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Bulger, PA.