Jerry passed away on December 26, 2020 in his home surrounded by family. He was born January 17, 1938 to H. Gilbert and Hazel (Barnes) Rowe in Highland Hospital in Belvidere, IL.

Jerry was a graduate of Belvidere High School class of 1957 where he was a three sport athlete and was named Outstanding Senior Athlete his senior year.

He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Slater, on February 15, 1959 in the First United Methodist Church. To this union two daughters were born, Karen and Diane. He was a lifetime member of the church and served on various church committees. After retirement, Jerry volunteered time and equipment to seed the lawn and plant trees at the new church on Bonus Avenue.

Jerry was employed by Shappert Construction, John Hancock Insurance and started with Burton Motors Sales in 1961. He and his wife became owners of the dealership in 1975. They sold the dealership and retired in 2001. He attended Chrysler Dealership School, and was a member of the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association and National Automobile Dealers Association.

Jerry was very involved in the Belvidere community. He was an active member of the Belvidere IOU Club. He co-founded Belvidere Junior Tackle Football. He was President of Belvidere Chamber of Commerce, and was recipient of Chambers Doctor of Civic Betterment in 1993. President of St. Joseph Hospital Board, Served on Alpine Bank Board of Directors, Past-president and board member of Belvidere Family YMCA and Belvidere Jaycees. Board member of Boone County Foundation and Growth Dimensions Economic Development Group. Served on various committees for School District 100 and the City of Belvidere. Board member and lifetime member of the Boone County Historical Society and served as chairman of the Advisory Committee for future growth and expansion. He was the recipient of the Prairie Grange Community Service Award; named to the Belvidere Bucs All Millennium Football Team, recipient of the B Club Service Award in 2010 and named to BHS Football Hall of Fame2014.

Jerry enjoyed fishing, hunting, and following his grandsons in their sporting activities. Family was most important to him. He was a Chicago Bears season ticket holder and avid Cubs fan. He and Carol loved to travel and were fortunate to visit nearly all of the United States and many foreign countries.

Jerry is loved and will be greatly missed by his wife, Carol and daughters, Karen (Terry) Frazer, Diane (Tim) Byers, grandsons, Zach (Nicole) Frazer, Jake Frazer, Jake (Kelly) Byers, Joe (Gabrielle Montana) Byers, great-grandchildren, Emerson, Reed, and Eva Byers, Benjamin and Evan Frazer; and a special young lady, Janne Gommel, the foreign exchange student of Zach and Nicole. Brothers Donald (Helen) Rowe, Gene (Marceil Gunderson) Rowe, sister-in-law Nancy Linden and brother-in law John (Marg) Slater, several nieces, nephew, and cousins. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, step-father, Maynard Schwebke, father-in-law, Clifton Slater, mother-in-law, Dora Slater, sister-in-law Barbara Rowe and brother-in-law, Mervin Linden.

The walk through memorial visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday, January 8, 2021 at First United Methodist Church, 610 Bonus Avenue, Belvidere, IL; In keeping with state recommendations, social distancing and facemask will be observed. The Memorial service for Jerry will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 9, 2021 at the church with Rev. Jim Bell, officiating, with burial of Jerry's cremated body at Belvidere Cemetery. The service may be viewed livestreamed through Jerry's obituary page at AndersonFCS.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given in Jerry's name to First United Methodist Church of Belvidere, Belvidere IOU Club, and The Boone County Historical Society. To share a memory, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com