Considered one of the finest athletes to come out of Villisca, Jerry lettered in football and track 4 years and baseball 2 years. In his junior and senior seasons he was named an all-Conference Hawkeye Seven half-back and selected to the Des Moines Register All-State Team for his class.
A sprinter in track, he qualified for the State Track Meet in 1948 and 1949 in the 100 yard dash and placed fourth in that event his junior year.
He boxed in the Iowa Golden Gloves while still in high-school, training under Villisca businessman Larry Farmer, a former boxer.
Jerry attended Omaha University on a football scholarship lettering in football for 4 years.
Upon graduation from Omaha University, Jerry was commissioned in the US Air Force. He completed flight training and was assigned to several operational units. He was a flight instructor. A former German Air Force officer who trained under Jerry stated how much the students respected him.
In 1968 Jerry was assigned to USAF-Viet Nam with the 460th Reconnaissance wing. On October 21, 1968 Jerry was killed during flight operations. He is buried at Offutt Air Base. His name is inscribed on the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C.; Panel 40w, Line 017.