JEROME KIENLEN

JEROME KIENLEN

Jerome “Jerry” Kienlen, 90, passed away on September 9, 2026, in Morristown, New Jersey. He was the beloved husband of Lorraine, with whom he shared nearly 66 years of marriage.

Born in New Ulm, Minnesota, Jerry was the oldest of 12 children. He grew up on a farm, excelled in school, and maintained a close relationship with his younger siblings throughout his life. From an early age, he possessed the qualities that would come to define him: intelligence, curiosity, determination, a strong work ethic, and an appreciation for the people and world around him.

Jerry and Lorraine raised a family in Basking Ridge, NJ. He built a successful career in business with 35 years at Prudential, and later in real estate at Burgdorff ERA, ultimately co-founding Kienlen Lattmann Sotheby’s International Realty. He served as Mayor of Basking Ridge in 1991, Deputy Mayor in 1993, and again as Mayor in 1994. Jerry served in the National Guard, as a member of the Bernards Township Committee, as a volunteer member of the Liberty Corner Rescue Squad, and helped develop Pleasant Valley Park. He took great pride in his professional accomplishments and his contributions to his community, to which he brought the same intelligence, energy, and curiosity that characterized the rest of his life.

He enjoyed spending family time in the music room. He marveled at the grocery store produce department. He loved discussing politics, following the stock market, and working on his portfolio; and he continued doing so until his passing. Jerry remained genuinely interested in building and designing, learning, thinking, debating, and understanding the world around him. He was silly, mischievous, and down to earth. He had a characteristic positive attitude and enthusiasm he applied to all of his relationships and endeavors.

Jerry was an avid card player and approached every game with a remarkable ability to remember cards and keep track of what had been played. He was competitive but always fair. He would practice hands on his own, playing against himself and refining his strategy simply because he wanted to get better.

Jerry also loved baseball, coaching his kids, golf, and walking golf courses with speed. He was even featured in the local news after he hit a hole-in-one. He traveled the world and loved to plan big vacations with his family, often gathering four generations together.

Above all, Jerry valued family, education, and hard work. When asked how he wanted to be remembered, he summarized: “He was a good guy.”  He truly was. He was a central presence in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He leaves behind his wife Lorraine; his children Karla, Geralyn, and Bryan; six grandchildren Jessica, Jenny, Andrea, Kat, Cora, and Layla; nine great-grandchildren, and eight siblings Kenny, Fred, Mary, Lucy, Valine, Sara, Karen, and Jane. He was preceded in death by his daughter LuAnn and siblings Wilbert, Charles, and Ruth.

Jerry’s greatest legacy is his way of looking at the world with curiosity, humor, attention, and an appreciation for the ordinary things that make a life interesting. He had the ability to find wonder in ordinary things and to make the people around him feel that life was worth paying attention to. His family will miss the sheer force of his personality.