Born February 21, 1932 in East Peoria to Vernell F. and Lela M. (Collins), he married Diana Jean Rushford on September 24, 1960 in Pekin.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years; one daughter, Debra Denise (Jim) Cooley of Orlando, Florida; one sister, Norma James of Colorado; one nephew, Jesse James of Colorado and his best friends, Ed and Char Gott of Morton and Rex Roberts of California.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Lee Webb and one niece, Janet Stewart.
Jerry was a veteran of the United States Navy serving aboard the USS Arequipa AF 31 from 1951 to 1953.
He was a 1950 graduate of East Peoria High School, where he was a standout football player.
Jerry had worked at Central Illinois Light Co. (CILCO) for 37 years, retiring in 1989. He and his wife, Diana moved to Sebring, Florida where they lived for eight years before moving back to East Peoria and then moved back to Sebring in July of 2021.
A loving and devoted husband and father, Jerry will be greatly missed by all of those who knew him.
Jerry was former member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, November 15, 2021 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. The Rev. Steve Barch will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Military rites will be provided by the United States Navy and Tazewell Military Rites Team.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul United Church of Christ, 101 North 8th Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
