Jerry Lee Christie

He had made his daily visit to The Handle Bar for coffee the previous day.

Jerry was born on Aug. 16, 1938, in Kokomo, to Myron and Mary Helen (Fleming) Christie.

He lived most of his life on the Fleming family farm before moving to Kokomo before high school.

Jerry graduated from Kokomo High School in 1956, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. He attended Montana State University on a basketball scholarship from 1956-1958. He returned to Kokomo and worked retail at Turner's Dept. Store, Montgomery Wards and Galbreth and Stewart's. In 1961, he joined the U.S. Army and played basketball and baseball in Spangaulam, Germany. Upon his discharge in 1963, he worked in Kokomo at Chrysler for 35 years. Jerry also refereed Indiana high school basketball for over 30 years.

On April 30, 1977, Jerry married Wanda Rosenbery, and they remained together until her death in January of 2013.

Jerry was once an avid golfer, playing many courses on the Bobby Jones Golf Trail with his golf buddies.

Jerry is survived by an aunt, Ruth Ackerman, of Carmel; and several cousins in the Fleming family. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Marianne Christie, of Noblesville; a nephew, Andrew Christie and wife, Cathy, of Evansville, their children, Taylor and Braedon Christie, Tyler, Mallory and Madison Weber and Kinsey Simmons; nephew, Ryan Christie and wife, Robin, of Noblesville, and their children, Grant, Maddie and Sophia; niece, Lauren Veach and husband, Chris, of Noblesville, their daughter, Addison, and a new baby arriving soon; "surrogate" mother-in-law, Betty Gentry, of Westfield; and Wanda's relatives in Illinois, including Lois Adams, sister-in-law; Dwight (Shirley) Rosenbery, brother-in-law; 10 nieces/nephews; 27 great-nieces/nephews; and 23 great-great-nieces/nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; and his special brother, Dick Christie.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Central Time, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in the Blue Ridge Township cemetery in Mansfield, Illinois. Jerry will be buried next to Wanda. A celebration of Jerry's life will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2021, at The American Legion Post, 2604 S. Lafountain in Kokomo, Indiana.

Donations in Jerry's honor may be made to The Dick Christie Honor Wildkat Scholarship at Kokomo High School, 2501 S. Berkeley Road, Kokomo, IN 46902, Attn: Athletic Department.

The family would like to thank Jerry's dedicated friends, Kenny Ford and Lisa Overton, for making sure he was watched over, often fed and always "listened to" while with them. He treasured their friendship.