Jerry was most known in the Cullman community as a grocer. As a child, he helped-out in the family-owned White Star grocery store. As an adult, he owned Jerry’s Giant Foods (formally, Jerry’s Shop n Save) located in downtown Cullman across the street from what is now Depot Park. In the early 1990s, Jerry relocated his grocery store off Highway 157 (now a Marvin’s Home Improvement store), and rebranded the establishment as Jerry’s Food and Pharmacy Haus. In 2002, he closed the store and retired.
As a child, Jerry started a coin collection that ultimately lead to his collecting, and studying, Alabama paper money (Alabama “obsolete notes”). By the time he was in his 40s, Jerry was widely known in the paper money trade as one of the foremost authorities on Alabama obsolete notes.
Jerry loved automobiles, especially German cars. As a young man, he considered becoming an automobile mechanic. Later in life, he started collecting inexpensive automobiles. His primary passion was 1950’s era American automobiles. Jerry was also interested in aviation. He had a pilot’s license for a short time, but work and family commitments did not allow him to continue to pilot fixed wing aircraft.
Jerry had an interest in trains. As a child, and after he retired, he collected several Lionel and Mike’s Train House model trains. When his own children were young, he spent hundreds of hours playing with his kids running model trains. Late in life, he enjoyed playing with model trains with his grandchildren.
Jerry had a great love of animals. If he saw a dog or cat, he would want to pet it and know its name. He rescued several dogs and cats over his life. Much to the amusement of his children, he would often risk his wife’s wrath by letting a cat onto the table while he was eating. He even had a specific car for taking his dogs on a ride.
Jerry loved classic 1950s and 1960s rock n’ roll. Even in the depths of his struggles with dementia, when he heard Elvis, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, or Little Richard, Jerry would become more alert and begin singing or tapping his feet to the beat.
Jerry loved the Cullman community, and its (and his) German heritage. He felt that Cullman was special.
Jerry was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Church. In a city full of beautiful churches, he believed that Sacred Heart was the crown jewel of the Cullman church crown. Over the years, Jerry participated in many parish activities. He helped found Sacred Heart’s local St. Vincent de Paul Society. In his retirement, he especially loved serving as a church greeter.
Jerry graduated with a two-year degree from Cullman College in 1973.
Jerry married the love of his life, Nell Golden, on March 13, 1962, at 7 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Nell was originally from Fairview, Alabama. They remained married until his death—after more than 62 years of marriage. In addition to being his wife, Nell devoted uncountable hours to helping run the family’s grocery business. Nell was Jerry’s partner and rock. She devoted her entire existence to his care when dementia confined him to a bed in the last two years of his life. Jerry and Nell’s love was so great that less than 24 hours after his death, Nell passed away peacefully as well. She often referred to Jerry as her “greatest treasure.”
Jerry was preceded in death by: his parents, Emil and Lidvina Loegler; his sister, Gloria Pyron; his oldest son, Sean Loegler; and one granddaughter, Ruby Loegler Haig.
Jerry is survived by: three children, Link (Elizabeth) Loegler, Marcus (Jessica) Loegler, and Laura (Bagus) Loegler-Haig; six grandchildren, Margaret Loegler, Lukas Loegler, Liam Loegler, Ayla Loegler, Pria Loegler, and Tucker Loegler Haig; and several nieces and nephews, including Jimmy Pyron and Akimi Golden.
Special thank you to the team that helped take care of Jerry in his last two years including, but not limited to, John Pippin, Amy Green, and Nancy Shockley. Also, a special thank you to the Sacred Heart Church Eucharistic team that brought Christ to Jerry while he was confined to his home.
Visitation is on December 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Cullman Heritage Funeral Home in Cullman, Alabama. A Rosary at the funeral home will immediately follow visitation. Funeral services are December 16, 2024, at 10:00 AM, and will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Cullman, Alabama. A graveside service will follow the funeral services. The graveside services shall be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Those wishing to make a charitable donation in memory of Jerry can do so to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 201 3rd Ave. SE, Cullman, AL 35055.
