Jerry Donald Pitts, 81, of Belvidere, Illinois, died December 14, 2022, surrounded by family. He was born March 22, 1941, in O'Brien County Iowa, to George and Edna (Wolf) Heppenstall and was adopted by Lyndon Pitts in 1946. He attended Argyle High School in Wisconsin and graduated from Lena-Winslow High School in 1959. He received a Bachelor of Industrial Arts from Northern Illinois University. In 1964, he married Donna Jean Cable, his high school sweetheart. Jerry learned to fly in Pensacola, FL while in the US Navy. He retired as a Boeing 777 captain after 33 years with United Airlines. Through his interest in aviation, he was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and built and flew his own open cockpit biplane. As a skilled woodworker, he was a member of Northern Illinois Woodturners, and turned numerous decorative wood objects and built two garden bridges with his friends.

Jerry is loved and will be missed by his children: Jeffrey D. (Anne Marie) Pitts of Bartlett, Darren J. (Peggy) Pitts of Elgin; Jennifer D. Pitts of Chicago; six grandchildren: Natalie, Lauren and Adam Pitts and Brianna, Jenna and Ian Giertz; a brother, Thomas Pitts of Romeoville; sister Sheryl (Mark Kiester) Pitts Wolff of Winslow. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; parents; and brother, Leslie.

A memorial visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, IL 61008, followed by memorial service and burial of cremains with military honors at Belvidere Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum.