Mr. Jerold Jay "Jerry" Kaplan, age 79 of Wrightsville passed away peacefully on Saturday evening. October 15, 2022 at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia.

Born in Bronx, New York, he was the eldest of three children born to the late Albert Kaplan and Estelle Sally Kolsky.  In the mid 1950s the family moved to Miami, Florida where he was a graduate of North Miami High School.  Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Law Enforcement.  He was honorably discharged in November of 1965 and in February of 1966 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.  He served in the Combat Zone in Vietnam from September 1967 until May of 1969 from which he received a Purple Heart, Medal of Honor and other commendations.  Upon being honorably discharged from Camp LeJeune, NC in May of 1970, Mr. Kaplan returned home to Miami where he enrolled at Miami Dade Junior College to pursue his studies in Criminal Justice.  He remained in Florida and worked in Law Enforcement until moving to Wrightsville in 1988. Upon settling in Wrightsville, Mr. Kaplan continued his studies in Criminal Justice at Armstrong State College while working as a Correction Officer within the Georgia Department of Corrections facilities in Reidsville, Georgia.  He retired in 1996.

Mr. Kaplan loved trains; both Lionel model trains and full size, real life steam and diesel locomotive drawn trains.   After his long career in Law Enforcement, he applied and got his "job of a lifetime"; as a Conductor with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, North Carolina.  He was delighted when he was honored to serve and have his family riding his train.  Any time with his children and grandchildren was a coveted and enjoyable time.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Sandra Rowan and a nephew, Tony Flanary.

Mr. Kaplan leaves behind his two daughters, Nannette Kaplan Mayo (Stan), Adrian, GA, Diana Sullivan Decker (Dirk), Cabot, AR, two sisters, Ann Flanary and China Kaplan Robinson, both of Port St. Lucie, FL.  He also leaves behind seven grandchildren Loren Avrett (John), Tyller Davis (Baker), Maddie Mayo, Joshua Thigpen (Ashlee), Miya Decker, Madison Sullivan, Taven Decker, eight great grandchildren and a niece, Cara Phillips.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Monday, October 24, 2022 from the graveside in Wrightsville City Cemetery, Wrightsville, GA with Pastor Jimmy Wright and Pastor L.T. Logue officiating.

Military honors will be accorded by the United States Marine Corps Honors Detail.

His family will receive friends at the gravesite.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register.

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Phone 912-529-4411