Jerry Dale King of rural Victoria, Illinois, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025. He was 87 years old.
Jerry was born on January 23, 1937, the oldest child of Keith and Lillian (Nelson) King. He graduated from R.O.V.A. High School in 1954 and earned a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Illinois in 1958. At the U of I, he was a member of the Dairy Judging Team, the Singing Illini Varsity Men’s Glee Club, and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.
Jerry married lnis Marie Adams on June 13, 1959, in her hometown of Centralia, Illinois. The couple moved to the family farm where they built a life together over the next 65 years. Jerry loved farming, and he was blessed to be able to spend his days raising grain, livestock, and his children on the farm. He was a hard worker, a gentle person with good humor, a positive outlook, and a warm smile.
Throughout his life, Jerry participated in local, state, and national agricultural organizations. He was a longtime member of the Knox County Pork Producers Association. He served the Illinois Pork Producers Association as Secretary, Vice-President, President, and National Director, as well as through numerous committees. He was elected President of the National Pork Producers Council and was Chairman of NPPC’s World Pork Expo Industry Relations Committee and Chairman of the NPPC Membership Advisory Committee, among others.
Jerry served on the Illinois Pseudorabies Committee, the Illinois Advisory Board of Livestock Commissioners, and the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank Agricultural Advisory Committee. He was a past member of the Knox County Extension Council, the Knox County Farm Bureau Board, and the Knox County 4-H Youth Committee. He was past Chair of the Knox County Farmers Home Administration Committee and past Chair of the Knox County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Township Committee.
Jerry’s hard work was recognized through various honors, including Superior Swine Producer Award, United States Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer, Prairie Farmer Master Farmer, and the U of I College of Agriculture Alumni Association Award of Merit.
Jerry also gave his time and talent to community affairs. He served on the R.O.V.A. Community Unit School Board for 12 years, nine of which he was President. He served on the Knox County Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority and the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs Task Force. He was a Trainer in the Blackhawk Junior College Training Program for 11 years. He was a member of the Copley Township Board and the Altona Co-Op Board.
Jerry attended Oneida Methodist Church where he served as Chair of the Administrative Board and sang in the choir. He had a strong, clear, tenor voice and his beautiful rendition of “Oh, Holy Night” regularly celebrated the Savior’s birth at Christmas Eve service. Jerry brought his musical talent to the stage through local theatre productions of The King and I, South Pacific, and Titanic.
He is survived by his wife, his sister Janet (Jim) Nelson, and his brother Mike (the late Peggy) Nelson; his children: Julie (Dave Shragal) King, Brent (Kim) King, and Brian (Becky) King; five grandchildren: Patrick (Kimberly) King, Keith King, Evan King, Adrianna (Daniel Urbina) Shragal, and Danielle Shragal; and two great grandchildren, Felix and Reina Urbina. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his sister Janice (the late Dean) Larson, and his brother Jimmie King.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m on January 22. Family and friends will celebrate Jerry’s life at 11 a.m. on January 23, the day of his birth. A luncheon will follow. The visitation, funeral service, and luncheon will take place at United Church of Oneida, 107 South Joy Street, Oneida, Illinois.
Memorials may be made to the Knox County Humane Society, the ROWVA Public Schools Foundation, or United Church of Oneida. Online condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com.
