Jerome "Jerry" Hlava

Jerome (Jerry) Hlava, age 81, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Baptist Health Corbin after a brief illness.

Jerry was born in Lakewood, Ohio, on December 14, 1941, to the late Ludwig and Antonia Hlava. He was a retired supervisor of shipping and receiving with American Greetings Corp. and a part-time maintenance operative with City Utilities Commission. Jerry was a veteran of the United States Army, who served his country proudly during the Vietnam War.

He is survived by his wife, Donna McKeehan Hlava; his sister, Maryann Beachy, his loving children: Adam Hlava, Jennifer (Jeff) Durham, and Diane (Sean) Swinney; step-children: Allen Wyatt and Laneve (Anthony) Rose; his 12 grandchildren: Zachary (Mallory Faith) Hlava, Mallory Hlava, Jake (Brittany) Arnold, Ryan Swinney, Brandon Durham, Kyle Durham, Camron (Eli) Campbell, Jayden Wyatt, Tyler Wyatt, Kenli (Dalton) McIntosh, Ashley Rose and Laykin Rose; and four great grandchildren: Oaklee Arnold, Cecilia McIntosh, Lily McIntosh and Casey Hlava. Several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends to mourn his passing.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Ludwig and Antonia Hlava, and his siblings: Julius Hlava, Helen Fedorko, Louis Hlava, Frank Hlava, Agnes Matus, Ruth Taylor, Robert Hlava and Patricia Woike.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00pm on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home. Funeral service will begin at 11:00am on Monday, November 20, 2023, at the funeral home with Rev. Andrew Darden officiating.

Military honors will be conducted by D.A.V. Chapter 158 of Keavy, KY.

Interment will follow at Cumberland Memorial Gardens in Lily, Kentucky.

Arrangements by Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home, where messages of condolence may be sent to the family at vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com