Jerry Van Keulen, 83, of Vero Beach, FL, died on Friday, January 13, 2023, with his family by his side.

Jerry was born in Amersfoort, Netherlands, on January 30, 1939 to the late Johannes IV and Jantina van Keulen. He went to high school in Utrecht, Netherlands. Jerry married the late Judith Hargreaves in 1976. After the death of his first wife, Jerry married the late Cheryl Melillo on June 12, 1978 and adopted her two daughters in January, 1980.

Jerry discovered his love of baking and cooking when he began working in a pastry shop at age 12. He graduated from the Culinary Institute in Utrecht, Netherlands. He apprenticed in Montroux, Switzerland, and then travelled to the United States in 1957. He worked at Darien Country Club in Darien, CT, and then went to Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, NY. Jerry also worked at Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY. Jerry served two terms in army, stationed Ft. Benning, GA, with an honorable discharge in 1968. He also served in the reserves. He moved to Onset, MA, where he co-owned the Holland Inn with his late uncle, Bowdenwijn Van Wijk and aunt, Stephanie Van Wijk. They sold the restaurant and moved to Vero Beach, FL in 1970, where Jerry worked as executive chef at the Riomar Bay Yacht Club. In 1987, he became the executive chef at the Vero Beach Yacht Club until his retirement in 2004. Jerry loved cooking and the VBYC so much that he continued helping out there after his retirement, as well as working at the Village Beach Market. He eventually began manning the Belgian waffle and Eggs Benedict station at the weekly brunch at VBYC until his full retirement in November 2022.

Jerry was an accomplished photographer, and had pictures hanging in the Ocean Spray corporate offices in Massachusetts, as well as featured on the cover of local magazines in the 1980s. He was an animal lover, and had many beloved dogs and cats over the years.

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Heidi Van Keulen of Charlotte, NC; and Michelle Van Keulen of Vero Beach; his grandson, Alexzander Van Keulen of Vero Beach; and his beloved nephew, Michel (Marilyn) van Keulen and their children, of Vianen, Netherlands; his sister-in-law, Ilse (Moehn) van Keulen, of Woudenberg, Netherlands; as well as nieces and nephews and their families in Connecticut and Alabama; and great nephew and his family in Pennsylvania.

Jerry is preceded in death by his beloved brothers, Johannes van Keulen V and Rudolf van Keulen, of the Netherlands.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:00AM at the Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church .

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in his name to the charity of your choice.