Jerry W. Sherwin

Cuba City, Wisconsin

Jerry W. Sherwin, 83, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics following a battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Westview Methodist Church, Platteville, Wisconsin, with Pastor Bob Korntved officiating. Visitation will be Friday, July 12, 2024, from 3-8:00 p.m. at Casey-McNett Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Cuba City, Wisconsin, and Saturday, July 13 from 1-1:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Platteville, Wisconsin, following the funeral service.

Jerry was born July 4, 1941, near Livingston, WI, son of Guerdon and Jeanette (Lee) Sherwin. He married Elaine A. Rawson on August 28, 1965, at Westview Methodist Church in Platteville.

Jerry graduated from Platteville High School in 1959 with high honors. He attended Wisconsin State University - Platteville, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education in 1964 and his Master’s Degree with high honors from University of Wisconsin - Platteville in 1973. He taught Vocational Agriculture and served as FFA Advisor at Potosi High School from 1965-1968, then taught Vocational Agriculture and Agri-Science and served as FFA Advisor at Cuba City High School from 1968 until retirement in 1999. He substitute taught for several years and in the fall of 2003 after much prodding, he taught two Ag-related classes for one semester at UW-Platteville.

Jerry was blessed with some of the finest young men and women that any instructor and FFA advisor could dream of mentoring. With their hard work, numerous accolades were attained. He served as advisor to two State FFA Officers. He coached three National Champion FFA Judging Teams including the 1986 National/International Grand Champion FFA Land Judging Team at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and his son Bradley was a team member. He also coached 18 Wisconsin State Champion Judging Teams including Dairy Cattle, Dairy Foods, Meats, and Soils. He served as FFA Advisor to 15 Wisconsin State FFA Proficiency Award Winners. Three went on to win their respective National FFA Proficiency Awards at Kansas City, MO, during National FFA Conventions. He was FFA Advisor to four State Star Agri-business Award recipients. He personally won the 1987 National/International Grand Champion Advisor of the Land Judging Contest in Oklahoma.

Jerry was the recipient of the National Pfizer – FFA Advisor Award at Portland, Oregon, in 1971; Lafayette County and Wisconsin State W.L.W.C.A. Land and Water Conservation Leadership Awards in 1998; as well as numerous Regional, State, and Area awards and honors. He was inducted into the Wisconsin FFA Hall of Fame in 2019.

Jerry was an avid sportsman as he very much enjoyed bowling, fishing, “trap” shooting and hunting deer, birds, fox and coyote. He was a charter member of Grant County “Ducks Unlimited” for over 52 years and a member of numerous wildlife and conservation clubs. He served many years on the Platteville Area ABC/USBC Bowling Association’s Board of Directors, serving as president from 2013 - 2018 and was inducted into the Platteville USBC Association’s Bowling Hall of Fame in 2015. During his earlier years he played a lot of organized softball, baseball, and chased an occasional golf ball. Jerry was a member of Westview Methodist Church in Platteville, and served in numerous capacities. MOST OF ALL, HE ENJOYED FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY HIS GRANDSON, CONNOR.

Jerry was a very active member of the Cuba City Lions Club, joining in 1987, serving in all positions of leadership including president from 1994-1995. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship in 1997, the Knight of Sight Fellowship in 2015, the Ray Hempel Fellowship in 2017 and the Birch-Sturm Fellowship in 2018. He was the Charter Advisor of the Cuba City Leo Club in 1998. He was Cuba City Lions Club “Lion of the Year” in 2008 and had over 36 years of perfect attendance. He served on the District 27-D1 Cabinet as Zone and Region Chair, Vice District Governor, and District Governor from 2002 - 2003, and received the 100% District Governor’s Award in Osaka, Japan. He received the International President’s Medal and Ribbon Award in 2006, five International President’s Certificates of Appreciation, four International President’s Extension Awards, and the “Grand Master Key” for sponsoring 54 new Lions members. Throughout his “Lionistic” years he became and remained an avid collector and trader of Lions trading pins. He served as president of the Lions Pin Trading Club of Wisconsin (L.P.T.C.W.) from 2016 - 2018.

Survivors include his loving spouse of over 58 years, Elaine; a son, Bradley (Tracey) Sherwin of Waterloo, IA; a daughter, Kimberly (Mark) Gehrke of Elburn, IL; a grandson, Connor Sherwin (girlfriend, Isabelle) of Green Bay, WI; a brother, Ken (Marge) Sherwin of Richland Center, WI; a brother-in-law, Arnold (JoAnn) Rawson of Platteville; two step-grandchildren, Ryan Oyen and his son Carson, of Waterloo, IA, and Shannon (boyfriend, Brian) Oyen of LuVerne, IA; nephews, Robb (Anna) Sherwin, of Evans, CO, and Scott Sherwin of Richland Center, WI, and his children, Bailey, Sophie, Paige and Bryce; and a niece, Kelley (Lewis) Fader, of Warrens, WI. Also surviving are nieces, JoDean (Jeff) Wendorf of Viola, WI, and their sons, Justin (Madison) and Austin, and Jeanice (Dave) Stephens of West Aurora, IL, and their daughter Jordan; and nephew Burdette (Jody) Rawson of Platteville and their children, Trevor (girlfriend, Brook) and Claudia (Akshay) Soma.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guerdon and Jeanette (Lee) Sherwin; brother, Richard “Dick” (Nancy) Sherwin; nephew, Timothy Sherwin; and his in-laws, Guy and Eleanor (Bratton) Rawson.

The family would like to thank all of the healthcare professionals for their compassionate care of Jerry.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Jerry’s name to the Cuba City Lions Club.

Memorials may be sent to:

Casey-McNett Funeral Home

Attn: Family of Jerry Sherwin

123 N. Jackson St.

Cuba City, WI 53807