Gerald Ralph DeGroff was born on January 13, 1947 and passed on July 9, 2025. Gerald was born in Boise, Idaho to Pauline and Ralph DeGroff. Gerald was the eldest of four children. He was raised in Mountain Home, Idaho.

Gerald was married several times and had several children. His children include an adopted son, Guy Micheal, two daughters, Kaira and Liberty, and a son, Rocky. Gerald was not a stranger to heartbreak. He lost two children to Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Amanda Lial at just nine months old and Paul Shannon at 6 months old. Gerald would love those babies and put flowers on their graves until his health would no longer allow it. Gerald lost his father to suicide when Gerald was just nine years old and then Gerald lost his son, Rocky to suicide as well.

Gerald worked for Pensoil for many years. He retired early due to health reasons.

While Gerald was married several times, he finally found the love of his life when he met Donna Henriott Fry. Finding love later in life really is possible. After a whirlwind courtship of two weeks, they knew they didn't want to waste another minute and were married and that marriage lasted 27 years until his passing. Oh what a life they had together!

He loved to go camping and riding their razor in the mountains of Island Park, Idaho with their loved ones. Gerald loved to travel and visit family. Family was very important to Gerald.

When Gerald married Donna, she brought to the marriage one adopted daughter, Jennie and two sons, Wayne and Daniel. Gerald loved all his children and stepchildren with all his heart, and he was fearless in that love.

Gerald may have had a tough life at times, but his faith never wavered. Gerald was raised Catholic and was a devoted Christian. He had a strong faith and knew he would see all his loved ones again. In early 2025 Gerald and Donna both got Covid. While Donna got a mild case, Gerald was not so lucky and had to be hospitalized. When he finally got over Covid, it was found that it affected his brain and he spent the rest of his time on this earth in a memory care unit, Ashley manor in Chubbuck, Idaho. Gerald wanted to go to Ashley Manor because the name of one of his granddaughters is Ashley. Donna would visit him every day, faithfully, through snow and rain. Nothing could come between their love for each other. Gerald was over the moon happy that he got to see his daughters Kaira and Liberty before he passed. Kaira was able to come several times and while visiting him, took care of him with all her heart and soul. But as time went by, his body broke down and we knew his time was short on this earth.

Gerald and Donna were able to renew their vows with his hospice Pastor. His time spent in hospice was not an easy time and while we all will miss him, we are thankful that he is out of pain and with his loved ones that have gone before him.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Donna DeGroff; sister, Paula Hart; brothers, Robert Woodruff and Ronald Woodruff; daughters, Kaira and Rob Coda, and Liberty and Jeff Brown; stepson, Wayne and Diane Fry; and stepdaughter in law, Heidi Fry. He has 9 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several step grandchildren and a couple great step grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his children, Amanda, Paul and Rocky, and stepson, Daniel Fry.

The family would like to thank the great staff at Ashley Manor Memory Care, as we could not have asked for a better care staff.