A ceremony to honor Dr. Jerry’s life was held in his hometown of Mendota, IL, during the 75th Sweet Corn Festival. Many of his family and members of the MHS Class of 1956 attended. Former classmates Ken Gehler and Bill Greenwood shared recollections of Jerry. Cindy, Jerry’s niece, and I (via phone) talked about the impact Jerry’s life had on many. The Mendota Museum & Historical Society held a reception afterward for the attendees. The book “Courage in the Congo” about Jerry’s life among the Pygmies, was on display.
The book is available on Amazon (Kindle or paperback). The site www.courageinthecongo.com provides more backstory, sections on Jerry’s time in the Peace Corps, becoming a CICM missionary, and testimonials from those who knew him.
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