Jerry DePlancke : Obituary

Mr. Jerry Paul DePlancke age 67 of Ellijay, GA died Saturday May 24, 2014.Mr. DePlancke was born February 24, 1947 in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada. Jerry graduated in 1972 from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. He went on to get his MBA from Western in 1975. After graduation he created his own computer software company doing point-of-sales programs and eventually sold his company to Kodak. To keep busy after that he became IT director at a major law firm in London and Toronto. He retired in 1994 and in 1998 moved to Ellijay.

He immediately fell in love with the mountains and the wonderfully curvy roads because the true love of his life was his motorcycle. He rode with the High Country Cruisers and The Southern Cruisers. His most memorable trip was in 2000 when he and his wife-to-be toured the U.S. for 2 months exploring parts of the country most people never see. Joene and Jerry were married in Dawsonville in 2003.

Two years ago Jerry discovered back road riding when he got a TW200. He could fabricate most anything and outfitted his bike to take him anywhere. He camped in remote areas totally off the grid. His only regret was that he didn’t get a TW200 twenty years ago. Jerry died doing what he loved most. He is preceded in death by his father, Paul DePlancke and daughter, Angela DePlancke.

Survivors Include: wife, Joene DePlancke, of the home; mother, Jose DePlancke, Canada; son and daughter-in-law;, Paul and Ami DePlancke, Melbourne, FL, Step-sons and daughter-in-law; David and Debbie Sorensen, Gainesville, Ga, Thomas Sorensen, Ellijay; step-daughter; Priscilla Darras, Salem, Oregon, brother, Dan DePlancke, Canada; grandchildren; Lindsey, Brennen, Caitlyn, Nathan, Jessica, Cody, Sena and Malia. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday May 29th at 2pm from the Chapel of Bernhardt Funeral Home with Brother Brian Pritchard officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Deplanke, Thomas Sorensen, David Sorensen, Greg Geisler, John Young and Chainsaw Bob Nichols.

The family will receive friends Wednesday May 28th from 4pm until 8pm at the Bernhardt Funeral Home.

Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to the Homeward Bound Animal Rescue at P.O. Box 792 Ellijay, GA 30540 In Memory of Mr. DePlancke.