Jerry L. Woolley

Jerry L. Woolley, formerly of Homewood, Illinois, died on September 6th 2023 at an assisted living home in Hinsdale, Illinois. He was 90.  Jerry was preceded in death by wife Alice, (nee VanCleave) and son Keith Woolley of Goshen, Indiana. He is survived by his awesome daughters Karen Woolley (formerly Hood) of Hinsdale, and Susan (Nate) Steiner of Homewood. Jerry adored grandchildren Ryan, AJ, Emma and Allie.

Jerry was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on September 27th, 1932 to Florence (Rabbit) and Claude Woolley. As a young teen in LaPorte, Indiana, in the 1940's, Jerry frequently boarded the train by himself destined for Chicago where he went to venues that hosted live blues music. In high school Jerry excelled in butterfly and breaststroke swimming events.  He put his swimming skills to work as a lifeguard saving lives at Stone Lake. His swimming talent earned a two-year scholarship at Ohio University in Athens. Jerry received a Bachelor's degree in Community Health from George Williams College in Downers Grove, Illinois, and went on to attend John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

As a young professional, Jerry served as a director of the YMCA in Oak Park, Illinois and the Sears YMCA on Chicago's West Side.  Jerry would open the Sears Y facility after hours for local resident Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and family. Jerry observed the burning of the local neighborhood alongside King from the rooftop of the Y.  Jerry lived his life valuing people by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.

Jerry met wife Alice at an Oak Park restaurant on November 21st, 1963.  Their first date the following day with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy changed plans from the restaurant to the living room and a six pack of Budweiser to watch the televised aftermath.

Alice and Jerry were married in May 1964 at the Frank Lloyd Wright Unity Temple of Oak Park, with the reception at the Oak Park Arms. Calling Homewood, Illinois home for more than 45 years, Jerry and Alice raised two girls who learned the game of golf as members of Flossmoor Country Club for several decades.

Jerry served as a Regional Director of the National Kidney Foundation and the Executive Director of the American Diabetes Association. From his downtown Chicago office Jerry took in the Lake Michigan view, and lunches often took place at Exchequer and Manny's Deli.

A celebration of his life will be on Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 from 5pm to 7pm at Tews-Ryan Funeral Home at 18230 S. Dixie Hwy in Homewood, Illinois 60430.