Jerome “Jerry” Rothmeyer passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. Jerry will be forever remembered by his sister, Margaret “Maggie Cremer (Chuck), Albuquerque, New Mexico; nieces Debra Nangle (Paul), Elsbury, Missouri; Diane Rothmeyer, Wentzvillle, Missouri; Juli Lindsey (Darrell), Queen Creek, Arizona; Jacki Grad (John) Colorado Springs, Colorado; nephew Craig Rothmeyer (Vickie), Wentzville, Missouri; brother-in-law Richard Kummer (Connie), Newtown, Connecticut; six great nieces, three great nephews and five great-great nieces; good friend John Henkel (Karen), Largo, Florida, as well as, his golfing buddies at Belleair Country Club and his co-workers from Eckerd Drugs.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; parents, Clarence and Felicia Rothmeyer; brother, Carol Rothmeyer; sister-in-law, Sandra and nephew Lane Kummer.
Jerry was born in Festina, Iowa on March 15, 1939 to Clarence and Felicia (Kuennen) Rothmeyer. He was raised in Calmar, Iowa, where he attended Calmar High School, participating in any athletic sport he was eligible for, excelling in football and baseball; he was elected to the Iowa Collegiate Honor Roll in 1956. If the game of “Marbles” would have been offered, he would have been the first to sign up. He played trombone in the high school band and sang in the school chorus, competing in the Iowa High School competitions.
After graduating from Calmar High School in 1957, Jerry enlisted in
the United States Air Force. He spent most of his military career at Chennault Air Force Base, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and was honorably discharged in 1961. He enrolled at Upper Iowa University where he received a football scholarship. Due to a football injury, and unable to play football anymore, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to attend Coe College and worked at Wilson Meat Packing Plant until he transferred to Skokie, Illinois. Different opportunities within Wilson Sporting Goods (PepsiCo) required relocating several times from Illinois to New York and back to Illinois. While in Illinois, he attended Roosevelt University in Chicago. In 1979, Jerry accepted a position with Eckerd Drugs in Tampa, Florida.
After 17-1/2 years with Eckerd Drugs, he retired in 1997 as Vice-President of Information Technology. Jerry was quite a sports enthusiast following the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Bears and Tampa Rays. Picking winners wasn’t his strong point, but he always remained loyal!
Jerry and Barbara were married June 7, 1969 at St. Patricia’s Church in Hickory Hills, Illinois. They were very generous donors to over 65 charitable organizations, such as, Morton Plant Hospital, where their name appears on the honor wall. Jerry and Barbara were members of Belleair Country Club in Belleair, Florida for 40 years where they participated in a plethora of golf tournaments.
Appreciation is extended to Caring Heart Compliance for the home care given to Jerry and Barbara over the many years.
If you wish to honor Jerry, donations can be made to Healing Paws for Warriors, P.O. Box 4373, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 or on-line at www.healingpawsfor warriors.org,
The American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.
