Gerald Setter was many things ? a devoted family man, a hard-working truck driver and a thoughtful patriot who commanded the Sons of The American Legion Squadron 108.
Sadly, the 52-year-old Oxford resident’s life came to an abrupt and tragic end at approximately 4:57 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 when he was struck and killed by a gravel hauler in the parking lot of TKMS Ltd. at 425 S. Glaspie St. in Oxford Village.
‘Everybody feels so bad about this. He was a great guy,? said Jim Parkhurst, past commander of Legion Post 108.
The accident is still under investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Unit.
According to village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski, it appears a 33-year-old Columbiaville (Lapeer) man, who worked as a mechanic for TKMS, was driving a gravel hauler to its parking spot, didn’t see Setter in the lot and struck him.
Setter was pronounced dead at the scene by Oxford paramedics.
Given all he did for Post 108, Parkhurst said Setter’s ‘really going to be missed.?
He regularly organized and conducted the post’s karaoke nights, helped cook breakfast for the Legion’s various Sunday meetings, volunteered at the post’s annual picnic and even sold poppies around Memorial Day.
‘If you needed something, he was willing to help you,? Parkhurst said. ‘He’d give you the shirt off his back.?
Setter, who was affectionately known as ‘Uncle Jerry,? is survived by his Nancy; children Gerald, Jr. ‘Jerry?, Amy, Michael and Dianne; grandchildren Gerald III ‘Trey?, and Michael, Jr. ‘Mikey?; and siblings Sue Ann, Nancy, Susie, Bud and Janice.
A funeral for Setter was held Saturday, Oct. 3 at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors Bossardet Chapel in Oxford.