Jerry "JR" Robinson

Jerry “JR” Robinson, 81, of Lake Villa, died Friday, May 31, 2019, at home.  He was born July 9, 1937, in Minneapolis, MN, to the late David and Ethel (nee Long) Robinson.

Jerry attended Itasca Junior College in Coleraine, MN and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota—Duluth, earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts.  He taught industrial technology and auto shop first at Post Junior High and Mumford High Schools in Detroit, MI from 1962-1967, and then Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, from 1967-2000.  While at Grant he was ticket manager for all paid athletic events for many, many years and taught adult evening classes at College of Lake County.

Jerry spent 10 summers at Clearwater Camp for Girls in Minocqua, WI, where he was responsible for “tripping” (i.e., planning, outfitting, and supervising camp excursions) and general camp maintenance.  He went on to serve on the camp’s board of directors for three years.

He was an antique enthusiast and collector of spark plugs, oil cans, model-airplane engines, standard-gauge trains, antique boat motors, and Heisey glassware.  Jerry served on the board of directors for Heisey Collectors of America, was a past president of Hupmobile Club of America, editor of the Hup Herald, and board member and president of Friends of Lake County Museum. He also was a member of consumer group, Dremel Link, which tested and provided feedback for Dremel tools.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Judy (nee Berryman); daughter, Christy L. (Dave) Erler of El Paso, TX; grandchildren, Sabrina (15) and Luke Erler (14); and his 1927 Hupmobile.

Please join us on Friday, June 14, from 1-4 p.m., at Maravela’s Banquets, 4 Washington St. (at the intersection with Rt. 59), Ingleside, with a program at 2 p.m. to celebrate Jerry’s life.  Dessert will be served.  Bring stories to share and wear something blue (his favorite color).

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jerry’s name to the Clearwater Camp Foundation, 7490 E. Clearwater Rd., Minocqua, WI 54548, www.ClearwaterCamp.org, the Glioblastoma Foundation, PO Box 62066 Durham, NC 27715, www.GlioblastomaFoundation.org, or the JourneyCare Foundation, 2050 Claire Ct., Glenview, IL 60025, www.JourneyCare.org, appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry "JR" Robinson, please visit our floral store.