Rosary for SFC (Retired) Jay Allen "Poppy" Fertig will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, April 22, 2024 with a memorial Mass following at 11:00 A.M. at St. Barbara's Catholic Military Community, Fort Sill, Oklahoma with Chaplain (Maj) Felix Kumai and Deacon Bob Quinnett officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow at 1:00 P.M. at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin.
SFC (Retired) Jay Allen "Poppy" Fertig lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on April 10, 2024, at 8:47 am, in his Lawton, Oklahoma home surrounded by family and friends.

Born on September 25, 1956, in Bridgeport, Connecticut to John A Fertig & Betty Ann Hilliard.  He is preceded in death by both parents, and brothers, Jack and Jeff Fertig and sisters, Janice Barbary and June Fertig. He is survived by his sisters, Jamie Bain and Betty-Ann Roberts, his wife of 45 years, Nancy Fertig. They were married on June 24, 1978.  Jay and Nancy were neighbors as children in Milford, Connecticut and grew up at the beach together. He is also survived by his children, Jay A. Fertig Jr. and wife, Devon, and Janine Bennett and husband, Adrian, grandchildren, Faith, Dylan, Isabella, Sophie, Riley and his beloved beagle, Henry John and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jay was a proud member of the US Army with active service from 1975 to 1995.  His military career as a Food Service Manager began at Fort Sill, Oklahoma (only 15 minutes from their current home) with the C-Battery 1st Cannon Training Battalion where their son Jay Jr, "JJ" was born.  Jay, Nancy, and JJ traveled together in 1980 to Baumholder, Germany with HHC 1/87th Infantry where their daughter, Janine, was born abroad.  The family came back to the US and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington with the Company B, US Army Garrison Law Enforcement Command. Returning to Germany in 1985, this time to Babenhausen with the 77th Maintenance Company. Jay's final post was with the 1st Army Readiness Group in 1992 at Stewart Air Base, New Windsor, New York, retiring in 1995.
Upon retirement from the Army, Jay continued his food service career initially with McDonalds in Birmingham, Alabama then accepting a position as the Modena Travel Plaza McDonalds and Facility Store Manager on the New York State Thruway with LK Bennett Enterprises from 1996 to 2005.  Jay's final move was to Lawton, Oklahoma in 2005 continuing in the food industry as General Manager for Whataburger and McDonalds until he retired in 2018.

Jay was very active in the community of Fort Sill at St. Barbara's Catholic Military Community as Parish Council President and a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus.  Jay would consistently volunteer at the Hallelujah Harvest, and consistently be of service to other parishioners who needed assistance moving, fixing things or anywhere else that he could lend a hand.
Jay loved to fish, hang out in his RV and just spending time with family and friends. He really loved his New Orleans Saints Football Team.  He was known to lend his ear and wise words to anyone he came in contact with and acted as a mentor to many.  He was loved by all and will be missed.