Ward, Jerry Elwood – 1935-2025

BALMER, HARVEY, HERBOLD, LANE, MORGAN, MULLINAX, MUNCY, ROZENBERG, STRUBLE, WARD

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 1/23/2025 at 10:42:10

Jerry Elwood Ward died on January 4th, 2025 surrounded by family at his home in Cleveland, TN. He was 89 years old. The son of Andrew Morris Ward & Bessie Elizabeth Balmer Ward. He was born September 29, 1935 in Newton, IA. Jerry Graduated from Newton High School in 1953. He served a 2 year enlistment in the US Army, receiving an honorable discharge in 1957.
On April 15, 1955, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Maxine (Micky) Rozenberg. During their early years of marriage, they made several moves as Jerry pursued a career in the appliance industry. They moved to Cleveland, TN in 1968 and spent the last 25 years with Magic Chef, Inc & Maytag serving as Vice President of Manufacturing, retiring in 1992. After retirement, Jerry co-owned ExecuSource, Inc. an operations consulting firm.
Jerry loved Cleveland and was actively involved in the United Way and the Boys & Girls Club for many years, serving as President of both organizations He received the Wm. F. Johnson Sr. United Way Community Service Award in 1983. He also served on the Board of OAR, Kids on the Block and Cleveland Country Club. Jerry was a member of The American Legion, Post 81 and an Honorary Life Member of the Elks Lodge.
Jerry loved his family, work, golf, the Hiwassee River, bird watching from his backyard and caring for his lawn & flowers. He was an avid VOLS fan! Go Big Orange!
He was preceded in death by his wife Micky, his parents Andrew & Bessie Ward, his sisters Dorothy Harvey and Lucille Herbold, his brothers Dale Ward, Richard Ward, Harold Ward and Dean Ward. The brothers served in WW2 & the Korean War. His four legged sons & daughters: Dolly, Maggie, Sal, Old Dawg, Sally, Bennie, Lucy, Sadie, Puff, Arfie, Wags, Pinky, Morris, Solo, Jigs 1 & 2.
Those left to honor Jerry include his brother Maurice (Bill) & wife Barb Ward of Newton IA, his children Jeff (Karen) Ward of Hixson, TN, Lee (Linda) Struble of Rochester, NY, Jodi (Alan) Mullinax of Cleveland, TN, Joe (LeAnn) Ward of Cleveland, TN. Grand & Great grandchildren: Megan (Dean) Muncy [Odin)], Andy Ward, Nicholas (Lauren) Struble [Jimmy & Evie], Andrew (Karen) Struble [Wesley, Valerie, Robert], Danielle (Marcus) Lane [Giulian], Tyler (Nicki) Mullinax [Hazel], Corey (Cherissa) Mullinax, Jake (Courtney) Ward, Carlye (Devon) Morgan [Annabelle, Violet]. A very special friend, Charlotte Griffin... she became a wonderful joy in his final journey!
Final resting place will be in Newton, Iowa at Newton Union Cemetery where a remembrance of life service will take place at a future date.
Visitation & Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date for friends in Cleveland.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Club and The Animal Shelter of Cleveland, TN.
You are invited to share a personal memory of Jerry or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.
Source: Companion Funeral Home website (Cleveland, OH)