Jerry L. Richardson, 64, Leesburg, passed away, surrounded by a loving circle of family and dear friends, at 10:50 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, following admission the previous morning at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

A lifetime resident of the area, Jerry was born Aug. 17, 1951, to William (Bill) and Mary Richardson and spent his early years in Silver Lake. The family then moved to Warsaw where Jerry attended Warsaw Community High School, graduating in 1969. In 1970, Jerry began his career at Hand Industries, where he continued to work until retiring as executive vice president in 2015.

Jerry and his wife Paula began their happy life together in 1997 where they lived on Lake Tippecanoe. On May 12, 2007, they were married on a boat overlooking Crescent Beach in Sarasota, Fla., where they routinely vacationed. Their love of travel took them to many places together as a couple or with friends and family. Jerry was a kind and generous man who made everyone around him feel special. He loved sunshine and lake life, where he was always the captain of every boating adventure. His smile and laugh were infectious to young and old, whether on the golf course with friends or playing trains with his youngest grandson last Christmas.

Father and friend to his loving sons, Jerry W. Richardson and wife Sarah, Westfield, and Jonathan L. Richardson and wife Nora Durkin, Chicago, Ill. Proud and loving Poppy to his three beautiful grandchildren, Will, Maddie and Emmett.

Surviving family includes brother: Larry Richardson and wife JoAnn, Warsaw; mother-in-law: Rosemary Davidson, Leiters Ford; and sister-in-law, Laura Davidson and wife Nora Skolnick, Braintree, Vt.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 7812 East Vawter Park Road, Syracuse, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23. A reception will follow at Oakwood Resort, 702 East Lakeview Road, also in Syracuse.

Cremation Services of Kosciusko County, 4356 N. SR 15, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements. To send condolences to the family of Jerry Richardson, visit www.cremationserviceskc.com

Memorial gifts may be made to the IU Simon Cancer Center for Dr. Hanna’s cancer research. Make checks payable to: IU Foundation and mail to: IUF, PO Box 7072, Indianapolis, In 46207-7072. Indicate “In memory of Jerry Richardson” on the memo line. You may also make donations online at cancer.iu.edu/giving or Purple Martin Conservation Association.

Cancer took Jerry from his loved ones, but cancer never took his courage or love for life. A beautiful man, a beautiful life.