Jerry Wayne Base, 82, of Smolan, KS, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026. He was born on July 20, 1943, in Larned, KS, to Dan and Nancy (Barker) Base.
Jerry grew up all over western Kansas before graduating from Garfield High School in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1964, serving in the Vietnam War as a proud member of the Navy’s highly skilled construction force, the Seabees. It was on a brief leave that he was joined in marriage to Veronica Steiner on February 19, 1966.
Jerry loved to Polka dance and he and Veronica enjoyed attending Czech festivals across the state. He coveted his opportunities to visit with family at reunions and gatherings, and to put it simply, he loved to talk. Jerry was active in the Smolan community, serving over 25 years as the Parks Director. He was member of the Salina AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits Club, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus Council #601, and Sacred Heart Cathedral. In recent years he was proud to have taken part in a Kansas Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Veronica, of the home; children, Camille Kaiser (Jayson), of Champaign, IL, and Jared Base, of Salina; grandchildren, Karson and Payton Kaiser; siblings, Donald Base (Janese) and Barbara Kroupa; sister-in-law, Kim Base; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Darrell Base; sister, Sharon Base; brother-in-law, Alvin Kroupa; and sister-in-law, Cindy Base.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 118 N 9th St, Salina, KS, 67401, with a rosary recited prior to the service at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salina AMBUCS Breakfast Bandits Club or Sacred Heart Cathedral, care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N 8th St, Salina.