Gerald Philip "Jerry" Risk was born June 11, 1935, in Lafayette Indiana, the son of Ralph A. Risk and Mildred C. McCorkle, who precede him in death. Jerry passed away August 13, 2015 at St. Elizabeth hospital in Lafayette with family surrounding him. He resided at Indiana Veteran's Home for the past year.

He was formerly married to Mary Jo Coling in 1957 (32 years), who survives in Lafayette. They raised five children on the farm near Wingate, IN. Jerry and his family were members of the Newtown Presbyterian Church, later the Newtown Community Church where he was a board chair. He managed Risk Farms commercial hog operation, producing 4,000 hogs per year and farming over 700 acres in Tippecanoe and Montgomery counties.

Jerry was valedictorian of his 1953 class of Richland Township High School in Newtown. A member of Acacia Fraternity at Purdue University, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Education was highly valued by Jerry; he was an avid reader and travelled the world through books. He served on the School Board of Tippecanoe School Corporation from 1975 to 1987 and as President or Vice President for 10 of those 12 years. He was instrumental in implementing the Program for Academic and Creative Enrichment (PACE).

Stationed in Okinawa (1957 - 1959) in the Army, he was part of the Honor Guard, the Best of the Best in Spit and Shine presentation. He played center field for the Army baseball team, and volunteered evenings for the U.S. Armed Forces Institute where he taught algebra, geometry and trigonometry to prisoners earning college degrees. Jerry received a Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Service while headquartered in the U.S. Army Ryukyu Islands.

Jerry received many local and state conservation awards, including the Indiana State Conservation and Environmentalist Award, Indiana's Conservation Farmer of the Year (2000), and River Friendly Farmer.

Two pets were special to Jerry; his favorite, Mackie, an Arctic wolf, generally did not like people, but loved Jerry as well as grandson, Ryan. Mackie would howl at a full moon, often heard a mile away by neighbors. Ky, a Coyote/Chow mix joined the house when his Coyote mother died on the farm.

He is survived his five children: Kimberly Loveless (Roy), Lafayette; Kathryn Stetler, Carmel, IN; Roger Risk (Cathy), McKinney, TX; Karen Graber (Hershel) Loogootee, IN; and Amy Risk (husband Bryan Michelsen), Half Moon Bay, CA. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Jessica Loveless DeHerdt (Corey), Ashley Risk Floyd (Alex), Zachary Risk, Ryan Loveless, Alexis Stetler, Moss and Fisher Michelsen, Olivia Risk and Michaela Scherer, and great-granddaughters, Lynley and Layla DeHerdt. His sisters, Trish Champlin of Tinley Park, IL and Ann Garber of Corydon, IA also survive him.

Friends will be received 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate on Saturday, August 22, 2015 with a memorial service following at 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Tracey Leslie officiating. He will be inurned in his final resting place in Meharry Cemetery (Wingate), alongside his parents.

Memorials may be made to: Indiana Veteran's Home, Trinity United Methodist Church. Visit us online at familyandfriendsfh.com to share a memory or leave a condolence.