Jerry Robers grew up on a farm in rural Walworth County. After attending a small parochial grade school with no organized sports, he attended Badger High School in Lake Geneva. When he was a freshman the school did not offer wrestling, so an attempt was made at basketball. During his sophomore year a wrestling team was formed and he found a sport he could do well at.
After graduation from High School in 1962, he took his desire to peruse wrestling to Stout State College. At Stout he wrestled varsity for 4 years and was team co-captain as a senior. During his senior year Stout won the State College Conference. Jerry graduated in 1966 with a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Education.
Jerry started his teaching career in Sheboygan Falls with the task of starting a wrestling team. He served as head coach until 1983 when he stepped down to coach the Junior High team. The 1985-86 season would see Jerry back as the head coach where he is now starting his 31st season of coaching.
The Sheboygan Falls wrestling program carries 35-45 wrestlers each year. Jerry's philosophy has been and will always be "kids come first". He works hard to make sure that each individual on his team "makes it" in school and in the community.
Under Coach Robers, Falls teams have always been competitive, recording 283 wins, 104 losses and 3 ties. Falls has won 5 conference titles, 4 regional titles, 1 sectional title and 28 invitational championships. Jerry has had 40 individuals win conference championships, 20 boys qualify for the WIAA State Tournament, with 7 boys earning places, including one state champion.
Jerry helped to start kids freestyle wrestling for the area and state boys by hosting the area's first after-season tournament in 1975. He served as a Wrestling Coaches Association district representative in the early years, hosted a German Exchange Team and was District IV Coach of the Year in 1986. He also referees when time permits.
Jerry is a member of the Sheboygan Falls Lions Club, the North Eastern Wisconsin Corvair Club and the Sheboygan Stamp Club. He is the advisor for the High School Fishing Club and annually takes club groups to Canada for a summer fishing adventure.
Obituary - Jerome M. "Jerry" Robers
1944 - 2015 Obituary
Jerome "Jerry" M. Robers, 71, of Sheboygan Falls died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 23, 2015 as a result of an automobile accident.
Jerry was born on May 8, 1944 in Lyons, WI, the son of the Carl and Elizabeth (Fettes) Robers. He graduated from Lyons Catholic Grade School, Badger High School in Lake Geneva in 1962, and then received his bachelor degree from UW-Stout in 1966. On August 17, 1968 he married Mary Dunlavy at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lebanon. Jerry was Tech-Ed teacher from Sheboygan Falls High School from 1966 until this retirement in 2000. He also served as wrestling and golf coach for SFHS.
Jerry was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Kohler and formerly of Blessed Trinity Parish in Sheboygan Falls. He was also an active member of the Sheboygan Falls Lions Club and was recipient of the Melvin Jones Award. He was a member of the Wrestling Coaches Association and was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1997. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, stamp collecting, and repairing small engines. He collected three 60's era Corvair convertibles.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary; one daughter, Jennifer (Todd) Robers Miller of Cedar Grove, WI; one son, Josh Robers of Los Angeles, CA; two grandchildren, Sid and Rome Miller; one sister, Joan Kuffel of Buffalo Grove, IL; one brother, Lyle (Marie) Robers of Springfield, WI; one sister-in-law, Carol (Eugene) Theobald of Black Creek, WI; nieces, nephews and many friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Dorothy Ceasario and Linda Robers.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate Jerry's life will be on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 11 am at St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in Kohler with Rev. Bob Lotz officiating.
Relatives and friends may greet the family at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls on Tuesday from 4-8 pm, and on Wednesday, at church, from 9-11 am.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been established in Jerry's name.
Sheboygan Press Media1:22 p.m. CDT July 24, 2015
The Wisconsin State Patrol has released the name of the 71-year-old Sheboygan man killed in a collision Thursday night near Sheboygan Falls.
Jerome M. Robers was killed when another driver failed to stop at a stop sign causing the two-vehicle crash on Wisconsin Highway 32, according to a press release from the Wisconsin State Patrol.
According to the report, Robers was driving a 1968 Chevrolet convertible south on Wisconsin Highway 32 when Brandon M. Franz, 23, of Cleveland, who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet K1500 Silverado pick-up truck, failed to stop at the intersection at County Road J. The two vehicles collided, sending the convertible spinning sideways before coming to rest in the ditch.
Franz was not injured.
Assisting at the accident were the Sheboygan County Sheriff, Sheboygan Falls Fire Department and Wisconsin State Patrol Reconstruction Unit.