Jerrold "Jerry" William Fisher, 81, of Martinton, passed away March 10, 2024, at his daughter's home in Kankakee, surrounded by loved ones.
Born April 7, 1942, in Kankakee, Jerry was the son of John "Jack" William Fisher and Alma (Martin) Fisher.
Jerry grew up in the country outside of St. Anne. It was here that he first developed his love of rabbits, showing them for 4-H. Later in life, he began raising rabbits again and traveled to shows all over the country during his retirement. He was a lifetime member of Champagne D-Argent Rabbit Federation and won many awards with his rabbits including "Best of Breed" at two national conventions of the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
Not only did he love rabbits, but all other animals as well, including horses, goats, dogs and cats. He spent many years at his home in Martinton caring for three ponies, two pygmy goats, 50 or 60 rabbits, a pitbull rescue dog and several cats. One of his rabbits, Rosco, lived in his home for several years and became quite popular through his own Facebook page.
Until an illness prevented him from doing so, Jerry was extremely active. At St. Anne High School, he played football and baseball. Later, he played on a men's softball team, a bowling league and spent many hours at the golf course. He worked out and ran regularly for many years. Later in life, he tended to animals, worked around the house, mowing or mending a fence or taking care of his garden. He was an avid gardener and would order his own seeds to start in the house before planting them in the spring. He grew many vegetables, fruits, flowers and trees over his lifetime and his tomatoes were legendary.
He followed in the footsteps of his father and joined Ironworkers Local 465 at the age of 17, working as an ironworker for over 30 years. He'd often point out buildings in the community that he had helped to build, including both hospitals in Kankakee. He served for several years as a union representative. After retiring as an ironworker, he went back to school at Kankakee Community College and later used both his education and personal experience to serve as a drug and alcohol counselor at Duane Dean Behavioral Health Center in Kankakee, for several years. He was a recovering alcoholic himself and had been sober 42 years at his death. Before his final retirement, he spent 7 and a half years as the director of code enforcement for the City of Kankakee.
Jerry will be missed by all of those who knew and loved him.
He leaves behind a sweetheart and life partner, Caren Myers; and two daughters, Lynn (Jim) Dill and Lisa (Keith) Covington; seven grandchildren, Amber Mandrell, of Urbana, Stephanie (Nick) Tanin, of Lake Stevens, Wash., Dustin Jacobs, of Urbana, Lindsy (Jake) LeCount, of Japan, Cody Shea, of Fort Wayne, Ind., Jim Dill, of Kankakee, Andrea Dill, of Paxton, and Kayla Dill, of Kankakee; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a brother, John "Jack" (Cathy) Fisher.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sister, Phyllis "Gayle" Smothers; and a brother-in-law, Roger Smothers.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Saturday, March 23, until the 11 a.m. celebration of life service, both at Schreffler Funeral Homes, Kankakee Chapel.
Memorials may be made to UpliftedCare Hospice in Bourbonnais.
Please sign his online guestbook at schrefflerfuneralhomes.com.