- Date Of Birth: October 31, 1925
- Date Of Death: May 6, 2017
- State: Michigan
Engineer, veteran, sailor, musician, cyclist, community volunteer, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Lowell Blake “Jerry” Mason, Jr. was born in Oak Park, Illinois on October 31, 1925. Jerry was the fourth child of Grace Fletcher Mason (nee Gilbert) and Lowell Blake Mason, Sr.
Jerry and his siblings remained in Oak Park with their mother after his parents divorced. Lowell Mason, Sr. moved to Washington D.C., where he used his legal training to practice before the Federal Trade Commission. He was appointed to the FTC by President Harry Truman and in due course became chairman of the commission. Growing up in Oak Park, Jerry was very close to his beloved mother. The family particularly loved to spend time at their cottage at the Indiana Dunes. During high school Jerry, a talented musician, led his own 15-piece dance orchestra, leading from the bass. He also played a mean ukulele.
After one year of college at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Jerry volunteered to serve his country in World War II, spending 6 months in Army Ordnance in the ETO. After an injury in Germany brought an honorable discharge, Jerry matriculated at Purdue University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. Jerry, always an engaging and outgoing person, was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He was elected to two honoraries, Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering) and Tau Beta Pi (Engineering).
A fortunate blind date led to Jerry’s marriage to Joan “Jo” Armour in June of 1949. After living in South Bend, Indiana for 6 years, Jo and Jerry moved to Kalamazoo to raise their 3 children Ann (1951), John Gilbert (1953) and Joan (1958).
As a family, the Masons enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan, cycling trips and travel to National Parks and the Canadian Rockies. They spent summers on Lake Michigan at cottages at Sawyer and Macatawa Bay.
Jerry was president and owner of Air Engineering & Conditioning Company. He was a proud Rotarian and received an Honorary Membership in 2017 marking his 60 years in Rotary and he served as president of Rotary in 1965. In addition, Jerry was president or chairman of the boards of the Western Michigan chapter of ASHRAE (an Engineering Society), The First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo, the YMCA and Borgess Medical Center. Jerry’s interest ranged from membership of the Board of First Federal Savings and Loan of Kalamazoo to leadership of the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven.
Enthusiastic and knowledgeable sailors, Jerry and Jo spent the three years they had together after Jerry’s 1989 retirement sailing the “Josie” on the Great Lakes, down the Erie Canal to the Hudson River and thence to the Bahamas. They spent many happy days anchored at Hope Town in the Abacos and at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club, where Jerry was Commodore.
Jo’s 1992 death in a car accident was a terrible blow to Jerry and their family. Turning for solace to a long-time friend who had also lost a beloved spouse, Jerry found joy again with Elizabeth “Betty” Upjohn. They were married in the First Congregational Church in 1993, surrounded and supported by their two families.
During their 24 joyous years together, Jerry and Betty divided their time between Kalamazoo and Bonita Springs, Florida, where they delighted in hosting children, grandchildren and many friends and extended family. Jerry taught Betty how to sail and they cruised the Bahamas. They also traveled extensively in the United States and Europe, including a trip to Washington D.C. with grandchildren. Betty and Jerry shared a love of music and attended countless symphonic performances. His love for Betty was so great that Jerry gladly went to the opera with her, including the full Wagner Ring Cycle.
To honor and commemorate his father’s life and work, Jerry worked with Kalamazoo College student Betsy Hoort to publish “Lowell Blake Mason – A Portrait”. In 2008 Betty and Jerry traveled to Independence, Missouri in order to donate Lowell Mason, Sr.’s papers to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
A cardiac arrest in 2010 slowed Jerry down and kept him closer to home but he remained gregarious and upbeat. Jerry spent the last two years of his life at Wyndham West, where he received excellent care from the outstanding staff. In the final months of his life Jerry and his family received comfort and support from many dedicated nurses and doctors, especially those from Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Lastly, the family is particularly grateful to Jerry’s personal caregivers from Custom Carelink including Rosemary, Penne, Billy, Allie, Teresa and Michelle.
Jerry died peacefully at Wyndham West on the sixth of May with his family by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Barbara, William and Nancy, first wife Joan Armour Mason, daughters Ann Mason and Joan Mason-Grant and grandson Blake Linell.
Jerry is survived by his wife Elizabeth Upjohn Mason, son John Mason, son-in-law Martin Mason-Grant (Linda Lucas), stepson Henry Upjohn (Martha Upjohn), and stepdaughters Florence Upjohn Orosz (Joel Orosz) and Amy Upjohn (Brad VandenBerg). His surviving grandchildren are Greg Mason, Vivian Mason, Jay Mason-Grant (Leanne), Corey Mason-Grant, Whitney Linell (Richard), Margaret Upjohn, Caroline Robbins (Steve), Anita Wymer (Charles), Marianna VanBuren (Nate), Andrew Orosz, Bradley VandenBerg, Elyse Brey and Charlie Brey (Lisa).
Jerry was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Wallace Mason-Grant, Matilda Mason-Grant, Eloise Mason-Grant, Jo Liston, Ryan Wymer, Rylee VanBuren and Jonah VanBuren. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
