Jerry G. Sachtjen went to the arms of Jesus on Saturday, March 16, 2024, after fighting a good fight because of a prolonged illness. “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Husband, father, friend, pharmacist, golfer, farmer, fisherman and most important…faithful Jesus follower – this was Jerry. He came into the world to parents Fred and Lucille Sachtjen at the old St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon, accompanied by a twin brother Gary, on January 5, 1946. The twins joined two older siblings, brother Jim and sister Ethlyene.
Theirs was a dairy farming family of cows, hogs, tractors and everything outdoors. Jerry was proud to say that he raised three grand champion hogs shown at the Deschutes County Fair and they all sold for top dollar!
Jerry’s schooling began at St. Francis Grade School in Bend, which is now a McMenamin’s restaurant and hotel, and then on to Bend Junior High and graduating from Bend High School in 1964. During his junior high and high school years he played football, basketball and baseball and was called the athlete in the family.
While in high school he was also active in debate and Future Farmers of America. At graduation he was awarded two scholarships, one from the State Farmers Association and the other from the Union Pacific Railroad.
In 1966 during the Vietnam War, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed for fifteen months in Korea near the DMZ. He was honorably discharged in 1969 having served with excellence as shown by receiving various awards and badges.
Jerry said that the best day of his life was the day he married Charlotte McInnis on August 5, 1971. During the early years of their marriage, Jerry was enrolled at Oregon State University in the School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1976 so this was a very busy time in their lives.
Amie their daughter arrived in March 1979. Jerry said “I so love Amie” as he enjoyed coaching her in their shared enjoyment of basketball, watching basketball and going to Blazer games. Amie was his delight! Jerry and Char enjoyed over 52 years of marriage, sharing in many wonderful experiences including travel in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Jerry had a very long career of over 40 years in pharmacy with no plans to retire until his health in 2017 made it too difficult. During his pharmacy years he served as president of the Oregon State Pharmacy Association in 2006, two years president of the Professional Society of Pharmacists and five years as president of the Marion-Polk County Pharmacy Association. He greatly enjoyed mentoring pharmacy students from Oregon State and Pacific Universities.
He was also very proud of his work with the Pharmacist Recovery Network. Even while extremely sick in the hospital before he passed, he was with clarity discussing his medication protocols with the doctors.
Golf, yes golf, was a passion for him, and he finally got his ace “hole in one” June 3, 2015, at Lost Tracks in Bend. Because of his gregarious nature, he could walk onto a golf course a single, soon was in a foursome and by the 18th hole he was a best friend golf bud and had another tee time set for the following day.
Jerry was greatly loved by his New Harvest Church family where he was a member. They will miss Jerry’s thoughtful questions, his beautiful singing voice, his gracious-no-person-a-stranger engaging manner. He served on the Classics Ministry planning committee and was the inspiration for what is now a Classics Ministry church tradition for families, the Carousel Family Christmas Night. He so loved his Saturday morning men’s group at church and gained great support from that group of men.
We all say well done and our loss is heaven’s gain!
Jerry is survived by his wife Charlotte, daughter Amie, brothers Gary/twin and Jim, sister-in-law Cathy McInnis and her fiancé John Oglesby, nephew Matthew Buckle, niece Ashley Shepherd and her husband Taylor and daughter Emma. He was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Ethlyene and niece Katie Buckle.
You are invited to join Charlotte and the family in a Celebration of Jerry’s life on April 13, 2024, at 3 p.m. at New Harvest Church, 4290 Portland Rd. N.E., Salem Oregon 97301. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Classics Ministry at New Harvest Church.
–Submitted information
