Walter Gerard Jelnicki

Walter Gerard Jelnicki 4-24-1955 - 7-25-2021 The smile of my soul... You will be here inside my laughter, when it returns... Thoughts of you will be internally on my mind and wrapped around my heart.... Walter my love... you empowered me to love with all I have, and to enjoy all that is good.... I will embrace each day with the knowing and promise that I will see you again in time... I can’t imagine a day that is not filled with your touch and your smiles... As I always told you... you were the only one who ever made me smile on the inside... My life with you has been kissed with many blessings, and because of you, I will breathe my life forward in honor of you, honoring our God with grace, mercy and love and with your spirit holding me up... my beautiful husband... I will cherish every moment we were together... and you will live on in that sacred place of my being.... Always.... Your Beloved Wife, Allyson Walter “Walt” G. Jelnicki, 66 of Bonita Springs, Florida passed away unexpectedly on July 25th, 2021 surrounded by his loving family after a year and a half long, undiagnosed illness, that was finally discovered to be a “potential” side effect of Covid-19 pneumonia along with a rare lung cancer. Walt was born along with his late beloved twin brother Kenneth “Kenny” on April 24th, 1955 in Lakewood, NJ, to the late Walter and Margaret (Javers) Jelnicki. Upon graduation from high school, Walter took on an apprenticeship to learn the plumbing profession and fell in love with the industry. Walter continued in his career and became a master plumbing mechanic eventually owning his own business (A&W Plumbing) for a time. His final years in the industry were spent working for Sean Sullivan of Sullivan Plumbing in New Jersey. Walt lived life to its fullest until he was unable to do so (due to his illness) and was deeply loved by his wife Allyson, family and friends. Walter was known for his gentle kind heart, soft voice, deep love and intensive Christian faith and spent much time in prayer and reading his beloved Bible. He had a passion for spreading the Good News and Love of Jesus and was not shy about expressing his Faith. Walt had tremendous endurance. Even after working 15 hour days, he would rest for 15 minutes and leave home to lend a helping hand to anyone, often doing plumbing work for free to those less fortunate or friends and family in need. Walter volunteered his time to his Church families and was most proud of his work building and installing the Baptismal font for Saint Aloysius Church of Jackson NJ, as well as volunteering his time installing bathrooms for his beloved Church family of Cornerstone Church of Howell, NJ. Walt was best known for his passion and love of fishing, both fresh and salt water. He was a skilled boater and captain and had the pleasure of winning many fishing tournaments over the years.... It was in and around his favorite lakes, backwater bays and oceans that he formed his deepest friendships over the years. When Walt was not fishing, he had a deep love of music, art, nature and wildlife and was most happy appreciating the beautiful landscapes, woods, backwater estuaries and beaches, sometimes walking miles a day enjoying God’s beautiful creation. Walt enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, discussing his amazing childhood on the family farm and sharing his wisdom and extensive knowledge of history and geography, both modern and ancient and the connection of our past and future. He had complete recognition, correlation and belief of his Christian faith and Bible scripture and how they all intertwined to be Truth... He was able to discuss names, places and dates in history that stretched over thousands of years with an uncanny accuracy and was fascinating to listen to. He will be forever missed..... Walt is survived by his loving wife Allyson Berlen; Mother-in-law Joan Berlen; Mother-in-law Michele Berlen; Sisters Margaret “Peggy” Casale and Elaine Manion; Brother and Sister-in-law Dave and Sandee Smith; Sister-in-law Cathleen Gallagher and fiance' Marian Dziak; Brother and sister-in-law Lawrence and Nancy Berlen; Son Mark Jelnicki; and all of his cherished extended family, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his Parents Walter and Margaret Jelnicki; Father-in law Lawrence Berlen Sr. and beloved twin brother Kenneth Jelnicki. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 21, 2021 at 12:00 PM in Cornerstone Church, Howell, NJ. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 21, 2021 at 12:00 PM in Cornerstone Church, 6550 Route 9 South, Howell, NJ 07731 celebrating the lives of two amazing men, Walter "Walt" Jelnicki and Lawrence "Larry" Berlen. Larry was the devoted husband of Michele Berlen; father to Sandra (David) Smith of FL, Lawrence (Nancy) Berlen Jr. of FL, Allyson Berlen-Jelnicki of FL, Cathleen Gallagher and fiancée Marian Dziak of PA; brother to Nicholas “Nicky” (Susan) Berlen of FL, Marion Berlen of NJ, and Carmella “Millie” Berlen of NJ; grandfather to Deanna M. Berlen, Lawrence “Larry” P. Berlen II, Shannon A. Corbley, Courtney (Gino) Mione, Emily Gallagher, Tyler Gallagher, and Hannah Gallagher; great-grandfather to Austin, Wyatt, and Mila. He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Lorenzo and Frances Berlen; siblings, the late Frank Berlen and the late Antionette “Annie” Berlen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his two beloved houses of worship which will be used for missions and his love for helping others: www.cornerstonechurchnj.org in Howell, NJ www.oceanchurch.com in Bonita Springs, FL To sign Walter's guest register or to leave online condolences, please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home and Crematory, Family Owned and Operated since 1978.

Walter Gerard Jelnicki

April 24, 1955 - July 25, 2021