Gerald "Jerry" Thomas Rhein

Gerald "Jerry" Thomas Rhein, 90, a longtime resident of the Hillsboro community passed away on Sunday morning, May 13, 2018 at his home in Milwaukie.
Jerry was born on April 18, 1928 in Oysterville, WA. He was the fourth of six children born to George and Gladys Amy (Dorgan) Rhein. Jerry was a dairy farmers son and was raised on a dairy farm in rural Yamhill county near McMinnville. He attended schools in the Lafayette Dayton area.
He enlisted into the US Army and served his country during the last part of the Korean War.
He met his future wife, Nancy McGowan, while at a VanDomelen Family reunion, Nancy was fifteen and Jerry was "several" years older. They soon became great friends and began dating when Nancy turned 18 years old. They courted for about one year and they married on April 7, 1956 at St Matthew Catholic Church in Hillsboro.  They started their lives together in Arizona but soon moved to McMinnville. In 1964 they moved to Hillsboro in a house near 24

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and NE Main Street. In 1967 they found their "forever home" at SE 7

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Ave. where they raised their 4 children; Thomas, Daniel, Lisa and Steven.
Jerry had worked as a dairyman before going into the Army; he then became a salesman for Pacific Farmers Co-op in McMinnville and Hillsboro. Jerry started working as a machinist after taking some classes at PCC. He worked for Cornell Manufacturing in Milwaukie for well over 25 years before retiring in 1993.
He loved working in his shop, Jerry never knew a home repairman, he was always fixing things himself. He enjoyed fabricating steel & carpentry. He was an avid gardener (mostly vegetable's) and being in the outdoors. He was a meticulous and tidy craftsman with everything he did, he was a longtime volunteer for the Hillsboro St Vincent de Paul, was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is preceded in death by his son, Thomas, parents and five siblings.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, three children and their spouses; Daniel and Tansy Rhein of Portland, Lisa and Dave Snyder of Milwaukie, Steven and Tania Rhein of Aloha, five grandchildren; Vanessa, Davey, Jonathan, Joshua and Alexander and two great grandchildren; D.J. and Brantley.
The family suggests donations in Jerry's name to Parkinson's Research.