Jerry Ward

Jerry W. Ward, 76, of Elkhart, passed away Thursday December 11, 2025 at his home. He was born June 13, 1949 in Caryville, TN to Ben F. and Cleo Ward. Jerry married Mary Lynn Runner on May 10, 1974 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Livonia, MI.

After graduating high school, Jerry worked in factories, retiring as a supervisor at Indiana Chair Frame. He enjoyed nice quiet days of fishing. He was very meticulous about how his yard looked, only because he enjoyed yard work and the harvest of fresh vegetables from his garden. Jerry loved to spend time with his family and will be sadly missed.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Mary Lynn, a daughter Judi (Joseph) Sparks of Elkhart, IN and his grandchildren Brennan Sparks and Kalea Sparks; his siblings, Louvina Russell of Clark Range, TN and Cara (Zola) Ward of Redford, MI. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Cleo Ward, his siblings, Julia McGee,

J.B. Ward, Minnie Ward, William Ward, Mary Green, Tommy Lee Ward and Patricia Ann Ward; as well as his son Benjamin “Ben” Ray Ward on April 21, 2025.

Visitation will be held from 11am-1pm on Monday, December 22, 2025 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 where funeral services will be held at 1pm. Burial will be private at Oakridge Cemetery in Bristol, IN where he will be laid to rest next to his son Ben. Memorial donations in memory of Jerry may be made to Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202 www.rileykids.org Online condolences may be made to Jerry’s family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com