Gerard Ignatius Vrtis, 51 years old, resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away, January 27th 2013 at Oklahoma University Medical Center from cancer.
He was born in Cary, Illinois, February 10, 1961, the son of Thomas and Joanne Vrtis. Gerry and family relocated to Michigan and he graduated from Waterford High School.
Gerry’s chosen career path was in the building trades, working as a Construction Supervisor for predominantly large-scale home builders. He loved working with his hands and helped friends and family with remodeling assignments. He also enjoyed assisting in the construction of liturgical furnishings and was especially proud of these contributions during his declining health.
Throughout his lifetime, Gerry enjoyed the outdoors where he was in his element whether it was fishing and hunting with friends, taking his nieces and nephews skating and sledding, or taking his children to the mountains when they lived in Nevada. His happiest memories were those connected with nature in whichever state he resided – Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, and finally Oklahoma. Gerry loved making a bonfire and sharing stories and was always up for a game of Hand and Foot, the family card game, or a sports discussion.
Gerry is survived by three brothers, Thomas (Mercedes) Vrtis, Richard (Rebecca) Vrtis , and William (Deborah) Vrtis; two children, daughter Sydney Vrtis and son Patrick Vrtis; nieces Tatiana L. Vrtis Sanchez, and Susie Chadwick; and nephews Daniel Vrtis, David Vrtis, William Vrtis, Thomas C. Vrtis Sanchez, Matthew R. Vrtis, Robert Vrtis, and Eric M. Vrtis.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 2:00 pm at St. Damien of Molakai Catholic Church of Edmond, 8455 NW 234th Street, Edmond, Oklahoma. A private burial will be on March 9, 2013 at All Saints Cemetery in Waterford, Michigan.