Jerry Gaines, 96, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Monday Jan. 2, 2012, at the Kansas City Hospice House.
Funeral services were scheduled for 1 p.m. today, Thursday, Jan. 5, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, with burial following at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers. The family suggests contributions to The Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.
Jerry was a lifelong Kansas City resident and well known business man and commercial real estate agent. He was secretary/treasurer of Sydney’s Restaurant, Inc., a chain of 24-hour coffee shops and drive-in restaurants. Jerry owned The Leather Bottle, Maggie Jones and The South Port Café and operated The Snooty Fox. In 1987 he received the coveted Restaurateur of the Year Award from the Missouri Restaurant Association. He was an active member of the association serving at one time as its field service representative enrolling over 600 new members.
In 1989, Jerry joined Block and Company Real Estate specializing in restaurant sales and leasing. During his career with Block he leased or sold over 200 restaurants in the Missouri and Kansas area.
Jerry was very active in the community, serving as a city councilman in Prairie Village for 22 years during which he served terms as both council president and mayor pro tem. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and served as a Scoutmaster. Jerry established PTTV, a television channel on the cable network, where he hosted his own show called “The Village People.” He also served as committee chair of the Public Works, Safety and Television Committee.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Sidney, Dr. Norman and Bernard Ginsberg; sisters, Anna Bogard and Edyth Bloomgarten.
Jerry is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Shirley, of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Larry Gaines and Kiesa Ketterlin, Prairie Village; daughters and sons-in-law, Margo and Doug Fund, Lenexa, Vicki and John Pitnick, San Enselmo, Calif.; and grandchildren and their spouses, Kerry Gaines, Amber Regan, Todd Regan, Jennifer and Ryan Reed, Jacob Fund, Jaron Fund, Christine Pitnick and Katie and Brian Lynch.
The family would like to express a special thank you to Jerry’s caregiver Joanie Jackson and to the staff at KC Hospice House.
Online condolences maybe shared at www.louismemorialchapel.com.
Arr. The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.