Gerald “Gerry” Lee Ranck, 82

December 18, 2025

Gerald (Gerry) Lee Ranck, 82, of Lititz, entered Heaven on Thursday, December 18, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Gerry often testified, “God has been with me all my life, even when I wasn’t with Him, and He won’t leave me now.” On Thursday, he peacefully completed his journey and is now rejoicing in the presence of his Savior. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, creativity, and a tireless spirit of being useful to everyone around him.

Gerry (affectionately known as “the Big Guy”) enjoyed storytelling. He’d often lead with, “Did I tell you about the time I…?” before launching straight into the tale, regardless of the answer. Yet, within the stories was the consistent thread of who Gerry was: a good and honest man with keen emotional intelligence and a sharp eye for the ridiculous and the disingenuous.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Gerry carried a sense of duty and precision into his professional life. Though he held various management roles in manufacturing, owned his own machine shop, and even earned a patent, his career was never his primary focus-it was more an outlet for his nature as a lifelong “tinkerer.” He possessed a rare mechanical intuition, and was far more interested in how things worked than the title on his business card.

He found immense contentment in life’s simple perfections: a well-engineered car, a quiet beach view, and a good meal shared with great company. He was a constant fixture on the sidelines of countless field hockey and soccer games, first cheering for his daughters and later for his grandchildren. Above all, he found joy in testifying to God’s unwavering faithfulness.
Gerry was the strong, quiet anchor of his family. He is survived by his dearest friend, wife, and partner in all things of 58 years, Bette Bateman Ranck. He also leaves behind his loving daughters, Susan Ranck (Jones) and Sarah Ranck Layton (Mark Layton); his adoring grandchildren, Josalyn Keller (James Daley), Rosalyn Keller, Tenana Jones, Ava Layton, and Titus Layton (finally a boy!); and his precious great-granddaughter, Raelyn Forney.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lt. Col. James B. and Mary Ranck, and his dear sister, Cheryl Ranck Sykes.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to every healthcare worker who bestowed countless acts of kindness and care on Gerry (and all of them) throughout his fight and journey home.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the chapel at Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Rd, Lancaster, PA. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Calvary Church Global Ministries Align Life Ministries. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit: SnyderFuneralHome.com.