Gerald “Jerry” LeRoy Ludwig

 Gerald LeRoy Ludwig was born in Omaha December 30, 1941 to Donald L. and Helen A. Ludwig. He grew up as Jerry in small-town Ralston, Nebraska where he played football and track. He was president of his senior class, graduated in 1960 and enrolled in Doane College, Crete, Nebraska where he met his future wife, Connie, in their mathematics class. They graduated and married in 1967. Jerry taught Junior High math for 30 years (the last 26 at various Omaha Public Schools), then was a substitute teacher for seven more years. His first three years of teaching was in Iowa where he coached and assisted girls basketball, football and track. In Omaha, he coached football, track and soccer - winning 5 Junior High Championships in soccer and followed that by coaching the Burke High soccer team for three years. For 45 years he was a volunteer worker at the Nebraska State High School Track Meet held at Burke High.

 Jerry was an avid bowler having won his first trophy at age 16. He bowled on 2 to 3 weekly leagues for 63 years until Covid stopped it. He was active in the Millard Jaycees holding various offices and chairmanships until he 'aged out.' Then he was in the Jaycee Senate and became their president for 1983-84. For 42 years, Jerry was very involved in the Benson Presbyterian Church becoming an Elder, a sponsor on 4 long Youth Trips, holding several offices in the Mariners, teaching summer Bible School, and taking care of the church facilities. Jerry and Connie's four children were active in sports, music, church, and Scouting. Jerry was a Boy Scout leader for ten years (the last seven he was the Scoutmaster. He alone built the Scouts an enclosed trailer for hauling equipment on campouts and several canoe trips to the Boundary Waters by Canada. Jerry would drive his family on annual trips seeing America on the way to Jaycee Conventions and Family Church Conferences.

  In the 57 years of life with Connie, they visited all 50 states at least once, many state capitals, Europe, Japan, and 9 times to South Africa. All this for a guy that had only been out of Nebraska only twice before college. His family hosted over 30 foreign exchange students in 23 years --12 of which were for the entire school year, most of the rest were for one semester or month-long summer exchanges. Jerry was a regular 8-week blood donor for many years before switching to 2-week apheresis blood donation. Weekly, he and Connie would go to dances and play bridge. When he retired at 76, he had already added flower and vegetable gardening to activities. He loved to hunt yearly --- pheasants and deer. When his teaching buddy retired and moved, Jerry would hunt alone. In all his years of hunting, there were only two years that he came home without. In 1988, he was the first hunter in Nebraska to turn in a bagged deer (got his picture in the Omaha World Herald for that).

 Three weeks prior to his sudden passing, Jerry and Connie had returned from a long-awaited trip to Alaska cruising on the Inside Passage with relatives when and where they celebrated their 57th anniversary. Jerry was a quiet and shy person except in and at sports. He had a good sense of humor and never said anything negative about another person. His dimple showed when he smiled, except when his beard covered it. Jerry will be missed and remembered by many.

 Jerry is survived by his wife, Connie Ludwig; children, Duane A. Ludwig (June), Michelle M. Ludwig O’Callaghan (John), Jeffrey D. Ludwig and Andrew C. Ludwig (Jill); grandchildren, Ethan, Peter, Lia, Elle; sister, Donna Dobey; sisters-in-law, Sharron Dean, Daphne Blauser, JoAnn Ludwig; brother-in-law, Marley Bruns and a host of other loving family and friends. 

 Preceded in death by his parents, Don & Helen Ludwig; brother, Thomas Ludwig; sister, Darlene Christiansen and brother-in-law, Lyle Christiansen.

 A Memorial Service will be held:  Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 12:30 p.m at the Presbyterian Church of the Master, 10710 Corby Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68164.

In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts/donations, please do a "good deed" (like the Scouts) for a neighbor and a friendly smile to a stranger.

Omaha Cremation Services - 4138 S 144th Street, Omaha NE 68137 - (402) 905-2727 www.OmahaCremation Services.com