July 22, 2020 — Jerry Robert Gnau, 84, passed away peacefully July 10, 2020, at his daughter’s house in Portland, Ore.

Jerry was born Aug. 5, 1935, in Marshfield, Ore. He was raised in Florence and told many tales of the fun times and mishaps he had with his three brothers (Ray, Bert and Dick) and their friends.

Jerry was the beloved husband of Norma Skinner Gnau, who died in 2012. Since that time, he wanted nothing more than to join her.

They were married in Reno, Nev., July 17, 1964, and had one daughter, Kimberly Jarvis, of Portland, Ore. 

He is survived by her and his grandsons, Joss and Jared Jarvis.  

Jerry joined the U.S. Navy in 1954 and served aboard the USS Yorktown. Upon completion of his service, he returned to Florence and worked at sawmills until moving to Albany in 1974. He worked at Teledyne Wah Chang as a millwright until he retired in 1997. 

He then returned to Florence to live out his later years and be closer to family. 

Jerry enjoyed shooting pool and was ranked 13th in the state at one point. He also enjoyed making things in his shop. He made and sold pool cues as well as jewelry, wooden boxes and puzzles. 

Jerry also loved spending time at the casino and could be seen there almost every morning enjoying breakfast and playing the slot machines.  

Arrangements were made through Burns’s Riverside Chapel.