Gerald "Jerry" Louis Carek's Obituary
Gerald “Jerry” Louis Carek, 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Born on September 7, 1938, in Lorain, Ohio, Jerry was the son of Louis Michael and Elizabeth Ann (née Straka) Carek. He attended Clearview School through the fifth grade before being accepted into to Howe Military Academy, where he graduated in 1956. At Howe, Jerry excelled in both sports and leadership, becoming the Company “C” Commander, as Captain, overseeing 67 cadets.
Jerry was the proud owner of Carek Florist in Lorain, a family business founded by his grandfather that served the community for more than 100 years. He took tremendous pride in continuing the family legacy, and the florist shop became a cherished staple in Lorain through his dedication and hard work.
A longtime member of the Lorain Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, and the Town Club, Jerry valued friendship, service, and community involvement. He embraced life with enthusiasm and a spirit of adventure. He loved boating, camping, and sports of all kinds. As a young boy he was drawn to the Adirondack Mountains, where his parents regularly took the family there for summer vacation. He continued the tradition, taking his family for many years. Some of his favorite memories were going on expeditions in his inflatable rafts and exploring lakes of the Adirondack Mountains with his beloved wife, Sharon. Later in life he enjoyed gardening in his backyard and building outdoor furniture, pergolas, trellises and vistas reminiscent of the Adirondacks. Jerry also enjoyed genealogy and treasured connecting with his family roots in Prague, Czech Republic.
Above all else, Jerry was deeply proud of his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered as a generous, kind, and loving man whose warmth and devotion to family touched everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Sharon Koba Carek (née Shurr); children, Linda (Glenn) Nyikes of Avon Lake, Jerry (Laura) Carek of Vermilion and Stuart, Florida, Anita (Tim) Harris of Avon, and David (Lynne) Carek of Sheffield Lake; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Michael and Elizabeth Ann Carek; brother, Donald Carek; and sister, Betty Lou Campbell.
The family would like to thank the staff at Porter Pavilion, Avon Oaks Caring Community for their kindness and caring support.
Contributions may be made in memory of Jerry, to the Lorain Historical Society, 329 W. Tenth Street, Lorain, OH 44052
The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral center. Interment will follow at Ridge Hill Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be left for the family at https://www.dovinreberjones.com
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