Gerald "Jerry" Harvey Felten

Gerald Harvey Felten, "Jerry", aged 91, of Jacksonville, Florida, left this earth to be with Jesus on October 20, 2026.

Jerry was born on May 7, 1935 to Walter and Erna Felten in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After moving to Florida in 1947, at age 12, he attended John Gorrie Middle School and graduated from Lee High School in1952.

Jerry's working career was spent as a home office life insurance underwriter at several companies including Prudential Life Insurance Company, Gulf Life, Independent Life, and American General Life. He also served his country in the National Guard for 10 years.

In 1959, while working at Prudential, he met the love of his life, Eileen. They were married on May 27, 1960, and lovingly raised six children, one of whom, Cindy, is now in heaven.

Jerry was a kind and loving husband and father, working hard to provide for his wife and children. Jerry loved the Lord most of all, and spent his life serving in his local church and ministering to many. His heart's desire was to raise his children to love and serve God, and to love and serve his wife as Christ would have him to do. His faith in Jesus Christ transformed his life and he earnestly desired always to love and please God and to help other people know and receive the forgiveness of God through his Son Jesus Christ, and experience God's transforming power through the Holy Spirit.

Jerry loved singing bass, and often sang in choirs and quartets; he was also fond of barbershop quartets and he often played the piano just for fun. He enjoyed good jokes, doing crossword puzzles and fishing -- any time he got a chance. He taught his children to fish, and imparted his love of fishing to some of his grand-children, who continue the tradition. He also somehow managed to survive teaching all six of his children and at least two of his grandchildren to drive.

Jerry retired in 2000 and immediately joined a group of men who called themselves "The Romeos" (Retired Old Men Eat Out), and in recent years he enjoyed the great blessing of a Wednesday morning Bible Study with another group of men at the church coffee shop, "The Table".

Anyone who knew him knew that he was the most loving husband and father a family could ask for. Jerry is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eileen Felten, his children Kim Felten of Jacksonville, Kent and Lori Felten of Phenix City AL, Kara and Shawn Middleton of Jacksonville, as well as Robin Hayes and Sara Anders of Middleburg, eight grand-children, 4 great-grand children and one hyperactive Pomeranian.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Gideons, the building fund at Christian Family Chapel, or to Community Hospice.

There will be a celebration of Jerry's life at Christian Family Chapel on November 5 at 10:30 AM.