Jerry Speakar ,75, passed away on October 15, 2022, at The Shepherd Center in Cimarron, Kansas, after a valiant three year fight with cancer. Jerry was born May 31, 1947, in Mason City, Iowa, son of Robert and Rita Speakar.
He graduated from Mason City High School in 1965, and Iowa State University in business in 1979. On January 29, 1972, he married Jean Gregory in Dike, Iowa. Jerry worked in the insurance claims business his entire life, first with Iowa Kemper in Mason City. He served in the United States army in Arizona and Vietnam.
Jerry moved to Cimarron in l978, and worked for Cimarron Insurance Company for 17 years. After they were sold, he worked for a couple companies until he opened his own business, Quality Claims in 2001. He met many people in his years in insurance and had connections to many. Jerry always took extra time with people to get to know them and said he got along great with old people and kids. One lady even called him after he settled her claim to come over for coffee to help her pick out the shingles for her roof.
He was a past member of Cimarron Rotary, serving as president, Cimarron Investment Club, serving as president, and Southwest Kansas Claims Association, as well as Cimarron Golf Club. Jerry was instrumental in starting the Babe Ruth Baseball program in Cimarron and coached for 25 years. He always said he never met a bad kid in baseball. He never lost his love of baseball and watched the KC Royals even when they had a down year. He enjoyed going on golf trips, washing his cars, and mowing his lawn.
Jerry leaves behind his wife, Jean, of 50 years and two sons, Chad and wife, Kelley, granddaughters Alexandra and Brianna, from Farmington, Missouri, and Andrew, Manhattan, a sister, Lisa, and brother, Chris of Mason City, Iowa, He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Nancy.
Graveside service will be held at the Cimarron Cemetery on Saturday October 22, 2022, at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow the service at the Cimarron Library. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Cimarron on Friday October 21, 2022, from 1:00 to 8:00 PM with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
Memorials are suggested to the Cimarron Golf Club in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.