On Dec. 2, 2023 Jers final words were “Thank you Lord Jesus.” Jer took HIS hand and went with HIM. He was 76.
Gerard Joseph Krauth, better known to many as Jer or longbowjer, was born in Wallace, Idaho Dec. 16, 1946. He joined the Krauth family (Joe and Marion and sister Marie) in Coulee City, Washington where his father was working. From there he lived in Seattle and Shelton, finally settling in Aberdeen in 1954. He attended St Mary’s and Weatherwax HS, graduating in 1965.
In 1969 Jer married Karen VanOlgle. Together they had two sons, Brian and Berry. They later divorced.
In 1980 he met Sharon Caldwell-Hatley. They married in 1982. She had two boys that he raised as his own. Later Jerry and Sharon had their son Steven.
Jerry had an ideal childhood camping, hunting, fishing and water skiing with his family at Alta and Curlew Lakes in Eastern Washington, Black Lake and Quinault.
During the summers of HS Jerry worked with a Youth Corp clearing trails at Table Mountain along the Columbia River.
Also during the summer he would hike the Steven Lakes Basin trail with his childhood friend, Steve Hill, from Port Angeles.
After graduation Jerry left Aberdeen and traveled up and down the coast, landing at Rayonier logging camp and finally at Hammermill Paper Co. He worked there for 27 years until its first shut down in 1992. He then attended Carpentry at Grays Harbor College which led to his own contracting business for several years.
After retiring Jerry bought property in Columbus, Montana where he built his dream cabin. He would spend eight months a year there until selling and moving permanently back home in 2018. He loved to entertain friends and relatives there bragging about all of his pet deer and turkeys and occasionally a bear he shared his property with.
Back at home he enjoyed camping, fishing, woodworking and especially his grandchildren.
He was an avid archer and very proud that he was one of the founding members of Traditional Bowhunter of Washington. He belonged to several traditional bow clubs across the US, promoting archery to young people and making a lot of friends along the way.
He continued to attend archery events even when he was no longer able to shoot or hunt.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Marion and his son Brian Krauth.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Sharon, who resides in their family home in Aberdeen; sons Berry Krauth (Angie) of Aberdeen, Washington; Steven Krauth (Megan) of Aberdeen, Washington; Sherman (DJ) Hatley (Amber) of Aberdeen, Washington; and Jason Hatley (Kendra) of Peoria, Arizona;his sister Marie Ignac (John) of Steamboat Island, Washington; 10 grandchildren and his first great-grandchild on the way.
The family asks that any memorial donations be made to the burn camp for children: Camp Eyabsut (1069 Adams St. SE Olympia, WA 98501 360-943-3030).
A celebration of his life is being planned and will be announced at a later date.
