Jerry was quite an all‐around athlete at Reitz High School. He became Evansville’s first Cross Country Champion in 1947. He led the city in scoring in basketball during the regular season of his senior year at Reitz. In track, he not only broke the city record for the mile run in 1948, he never lost a mile race, other than in the State Track Meet his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years, where he finished 5th, 4th and 3rd, respectively.
After graduating from Reitz High School in 1948, Jerry went on to play basketball for Arad McCutchan at Evansville College (U of E) on a basketball scholarship. He was a 3‐time letter winner, graduating in 1952. In 1989, he was honored to be inducted into the U of E Athletic Hall of Fame. While at Evansville College, Jerry met the love of his life, Bernice Marak. They were married on June 7, 1952. From 1952‐1954, Jerry was a member of the U.S. Army at Camp Gordon in Augusta, GA where he served as an MP and was able to play on Camp Gordon’s traveling basketball team. Jerry went on to earn his Master’s Degree from Indiana University.
In 1954, he began his teaching and coaching career at Grayville High School in Grayville, IL. Jerry returned to Evansville in 1955 and taught at German Township (Cynthia Heights) and Dexter Schools before moving to Bosse High School in 1961. While at Bosse, he served as a teacher, track coach, and basketball coach, with his most
success coming in the sport of basketball. In his first year at Bosse, he served as an assistant coach with the 1962 boys state championship team. He continued as an assistant in boys basketball until he took over as head coach of the girls basketball program in 1977. Over the next fourteen years, he amassed a record of 196 wins and 72 losses
including 8 City titles, 7 SIAC titles, 7 Sectional titles, 5 Regional titles and 1 Semi‐State title, earning a birth in the final four in 1984, all during the single class basketball system. During his summers off, Jerry enjoyed working at Ellis Park as a cashier where he became friends with many co-workers and patrons.
Jerry was a man of faith and was a member of Forest Hills Wesleyan Church. In addition, he was active in the R-Men Varsity Club, the Quarterback Club, and was a charter member of the Huddleback Club. Jerry and Bernice loved to play Bridge and played with the same couples for 50 years.
Jerry was devoted to his family and enjoyed attending his grandchildren's events. He was a very loyal person and remained close to numerous high school friends and colleagues even to this day.
At family events, Jerry was the main source of entertainment. He was always introducing new games and riddles to baffle the new members of the family. He enjoyed making homemade wine, attending to his roses, and growing his “famous tomatoes” to share with friends and family.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Elizabeth Karns.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bernice; daughters, Debbie Virgin (Gary), Judi Raben (James), and Jodi Zeller (Bryan); son, Kevin Canterbury (Amy); grandchildren, Kendall (Kevin), Brittney (Jim), Blair (Brandon), Jordan (Kristen), Blake (Lindsey), Alex (Haley), Courtney (Daniel), and Kiersten; great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Kole, Lou, Barrett, Owen, Adelyn, Braylon, Hudson and Charley; sister, Louise Nichols (David); brother-in-law, Rev. Donald Karns; and nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Solarbron Terrace, Deaconess 4th Floor Staff Tower D, Hamilton Pointe Staff & Administration, and Deaconess Hospice for their loving care. They would also like to thank Dr. William Hardesty for his many years of care and friendship.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 13, 2020 at Alexander Memorial Park Heritage Chapel officiated by Rev. Gene Backes. Burial will be private at Alexander Memorial Park. Friends may visit on Sunday from 1:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. at Alexander West Chapel and on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until service time at Heritage Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to R-Men Varsity Club (a scholarship organization), P.O. Box 6071, Evansville, Indiana 47719, Forest Hills Wesleyan Church, 2801 Claremont Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47712, or St. James West United Methodist Church, 3111 Hillcrest Terrace, Evansville, Indiana 47712.
