Gerald J. Caraher

Gerald James "Jerry" Caraher, 92, of Overland Park, Kansas, died peacefully on September 29, 2026. He was born on February 4, 1934, in Chicago to Gerald James Caraher Sr. and Josephine (Carls) Caraher.

Jerry grew up in Chicago and earned a B. A. in Psychology from DePaul University where he was editor-in-chief of the Depaulian yearbook and a member of the Blue Key Honor Society. Post college, Jerry served in the Army. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Chicago and received an M.S. in Industrial Relations from Loyola University Chicago.

His training in industrial relations led to a long career in human resources, and that career took him and his family around the world. He started his career at General Foods in White Plains, NY, where he met his wife, Susan. With Esso he worked in Japan and Malaysia for six years and then moved with his family back to New York to work at Exxon headquarters.

His career then took the family to Los Angeles to work for Getty Oil and then Disney Imagineering. He and Susan later moved to Kansas where he served as Director of Human Resources at Pritchard Corporation (now Black & Veatch Pritchard). To keep busy after retiring, he worked at Johnson County Community College, where he greeted students at the gym every morning.

Jerry loved history and was an avid coin collector. After family dinners, he liked to bring out old joke books. When his boys were in trouble, he made them go to the early morning
mass. He was an early adopter of technology, gadgets and unique hobbies - including the Commodore 64, weather gadgets, making root beer, a full table model railroad and bee hives.

During the family’s long tenure in California, Jerry enjoyed spending time at the ocean and made the hour and a half drive from Glendale to Malibu at least twice a month to spend time on Leo Carrillo State Park beach.

Jerry was very proud of turning the odometer of his indoor exercise bike over 100,000 miles. He loved his dogs Rusty and Ned and relished engaging with phone scammers until they hung up on him. Jerry also enjoyed his evening Manhattan.

He lived in Overland Park for more than 30 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Susan, in 2018, and by his parents, and his sister Marie Banicki. He is survived by his children, Anne (Stephen), Peter (Lee), Patrick (Jess) and Timothy (Jen); seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his sister Jo, of Hermitage, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those wishing to honor Jerry’s memory to raise a Manhattan with a friend or make a donation to Parks California which is dedicated to preserving and strengthening California State Parks.

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