Gerald "Jerry" Walker, age 77, a resident of Aurora since 2007, went to be with the Lord suddenly on Monday, September 28, 2015. He was born on April 10, 1938 in Herrin, IL.

Gerald was a 1956 graduate of Herrin High School. His career began at U.S. Steel in Chicago, IL as a lab chemist where he worked 28 years. After his retirement he started his second career as a custodian at Christian Fellowship Church in Hammond, IN. He worked there 21 years before starting his job in office services at Tyndale House Publishers in Carol Stream, IL where he worked 8 years until his second retirement in May 2014.

Gerald enthusiastically used his gift of singing in church choirs, madrigals, leading music at the Pacific Garden Mission and in personally singing "Happy Birthday" to the employees of Tyndale House Publishers on their special day.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joyce Walker (née Barrett); eight children, Jerry Walker, Jr. of Seattle, WA, April Hernandez of Springfield, MO, Scott (Kathy) Walker of Grant Park, IL, Donald (Rebekah) Walker of Columbus, IN, Jonathan Walker of Munster, IN, William (Lisa) Fuller of New Berlin, WI, David (Tammy) Walker of DeMotte, IN, and Debra (Eric) Johnson of Batavia, IL; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother, Gordon (Sylvia) Walker of Carterville, IL; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Kocal of Munster, IN and Adeline Walker of Herrin, IL.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Roxanne Walker; an infant daughter, Candice Marie Walker; his brother, Denzel Walker; and his brother-in-law, Lawrence Kocal.

A visitation will be held Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 2-6 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL where a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2015. Interment service will be held at River Hills Memorial Park in Batavia, IL.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be directed to Pacific Garden Mission , 1458 S. Canal St, Chicago, IL 60607.