Jerry "Butch" Templeton, Jr.

Jerry “Butch” Templeton, Jr., age 69, of Garden City, Michigan, passed away on August 15, 2025. Born on March 13, 1956, in Trenton, Michigan, he was the son of the late Jerry and Elaine (Ralish) Templeton. He moved to Garden City at the age of 10 and enjoyed being a proud member of the community. If you ever met Jerry, you’d remember it. He had a way of making people feel like they mattered, with a smile that never left his face, a joke always ready to go, and a heart that never ran out of room for others. He was the kind of person who would help anyone, anytime, with anything, no questions asked. Whether you were a close friend or a stranger at the gas station, Jerry could talk to you like you were old pals. After graduating high school, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his time overseas, he was fortunate enough to see legendary musicians like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Eagles perform live. As a music lover, these were memories he cherished for the rest of his life. He also loved to read. He read everything about history, music, politics, sports and never missed his morning newspaper. 

Following his military service, Jerry spent over two decades working as an Iron Worker with Local 25. He took great pride in his work but if you asked Jerry what he was most proud of, it wasn’t the work he did, it was the people he loved. He spent a lot of time together with his family and if you asked his nieces & nephews, he was the greatest uncle in the world. He gave them memories that would last forever. He was a fantastic cook, known for his spaghetti, fried potatoes, his perfect breakfast sandwiches and his personal favorite — pork chops. He shared his love of sports, especially football and baseball, and could rattle off stats like he had a scoreboard in his head. He had a memory like a steel trap and never forgot a stat, a moment, or a story that mattered.

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Jada Maddox; his siblings, Valerie Templeton, Randy (Debbie) Templeton, Jeffery Templeton, and Stacy (George) Karafotis and his beloved nieces and nephews, Tim McGarvey, Randy (Michelle) Templeton, Jr., Brandon Templeton, Sean (Sunnis) Templeton, Dino Karafotis and Lucy Karafotis. He is also remembered by many dear aunts, cousins and great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Elaine Templeton and his brother, David Templeton.

A memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at The Cremation Society of Michigan, 31551 Ford Ave., Garden City, MI 48135.

Jerry will be remembered for his warmth, his humor, his generosity, and most of all, the twinkle in his eye and the love in his heart. He made the world a little brighter just by being in it and that’s how he’ll be remembered by everyone who loved him.