Jerry Joe Garringer

Jerry Joe Garringer July 23, 1944 – December 23, 2022 There are significant moments in life that shape us. My dad, Joe Garringer, had one significant moment that shaped him and challenged him his whole life. When he was in his late twenties, Joe was painting a home for a retired widow. She told my dad of her late husband’s plan to work hard and save so that they could travel when he retired. Unfortunately, her husband passed before they could enjoy themselves. She told dad, “You must live your life fully now. Do not wait because you may not get the chance.” From that moment on, Joe allowed this woman’s life lesson to guide his decisions. He decided to live life fully each day. And so, he did. Joe was born in Anderson, Indiana to Isaac and Mabel (Manor) Garringer on July 23, 1944. He was born the last of 10 children and the sixth son to the Garringer family. He grew up loving cars, sports, working hard, and his family. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He later worked at General Motors where he eventually became a sheet metal tinsmith. But dad’s true passion was flying. Joe earned his pilot’s license in his late 20’s and he never looked back. We grew up hopping on our little Cessna just so we could grab some dessert or hot cocoa at another airport, flying to Michigan for dinner for the night, or even buzzing over to Kings Island for the evening. Dad always found a reason to fly. He continued to add to his skills and licenses until he was flying Lear jets for a private company. John Travolta, Bob Dole, and the Busch Family were some of his passengers in those years. He later had the privilege of flying an air ambulance all over the world for several years picking up injured world travelers and flying them back to the U.S. Other Tidbits about Joe: *He celebrated peace and sobriety for 50 years while helping others do the same. *He stayed remarkably calm as his boat (full of passengers) started sinking on a holiday boat trip. He got his boat and passengers all to safety. *He could slalom water ski around the perimeter of Morse Reservoir, while we all secretly wished he would fall so we could go eat dinner. ;) *He once delivered, hands down, the best hamster eulogy ever witnessed. *He once claimed that he didn’t know how to play tennis and then took both my husband and I on at the same time and destroyed us. *He could electrically wire a dollhouse. *He was a vicious pool volleyball player. *Eventually, our family began to refer to him as Superman. *He loved his beautiful wife and family. He taught us all to get up and go and enjoy life. Dad was known as Papa Joe to his many grandchildren. I am pretty sure all the grandkids have been run off a go-kart track a time or two, wore out at an amusement park as Papa Joe tried to get one more ride out of them or found themselves being outwitted at a game of spoons or other game that the kids had just taught him. He always rose to the challenge as he quietly found a way to thwart us in sport or game. Dad loved his wife of 36 years, Cindy, with all his heart. They lived out many adventures together and lived in many beautiful locations. They truly enjoyed each other. In their later years of marriage, they would end every night both sitting together in one oversized chair watching their nightly programs with a cup of decaf and a square or two of chocolate. It was an adorable sight to see. It’s the little moments in life that also bring us so much joy, don’t you think? Holding hands, the nightly kiss on the lips (dad calls those “kissies”), and the quiet moments sitting side by side (no words needed), those are the precious moments we got to watch them share. On dad’s last day on this earth, Cindy’s name was brought up as I visited him and he came alive and proclaimed, “Damn, I love that woman!” She was his best friend. Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberland Dinsdale, a loss that truly broke his heart; his parents, Isaac & Mabel Garringer; brothers Dick, Jesse, Rex, Junior, and Jimmie; Sisters, Cleo, Patricia, and Nancy. Joe is survived by his wife Cynthia (Hart) Garringer, his daughter, Joey (Chris) Mishler; his stepsons, Mike (Deb) Goldsmith, Jeff (Cindy) Goldsmith; and stepdaughters, Kelly (Dan) Lucas, Robyn (Trent) Hall and Jill Foor; Grandchildren, Anais (Glenn) Cusumano, Victoria (Joe) Eccles, Silas (Ashley) Mishler, Andrew (Angela) Mishler, Esther Mishler (Payton Fiorenini), Jennifer (Noah) Hart, Sarah Weston, Abby Goldsmith, Kaitlin Goldsmith, Charlie Goldsmith, Claire (Christian) Deck, Chris (Kiersten) Lucas, Jackson (Savannah Kramer) Lucas, Alec (Monica) Thomas, Kiley (Andrew) Long, Spencer (Hunter) Thomas, Trent Hall Jr., Brandy Goldsmith & Cody Branham as well as 16 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Lillian Jean Flynn, and sister-in-law, Betty J. Garringer-Henning. We would love you to join us as we celebrate the marvelous life of Jerry Joe Garringer on January 7th, 2023, at Loose Funeral Home in Anderson, Indiana. There will be a short visitation from 12pm – 1pm with the Celebration Service beginning at 1pm. Please join us to celebrate a life well lived. Our Superman has finally flown home.

Jerry Joe Garringer

July 23, 1944 - December 23, 2022