Jerry Orlaske

Jerry Orlaske was born on October 5, 1937, in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Theodore and Wilma Munjoy Orlaske. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1955 and wed his high school sweetheart Carol Winters Orlaske on June 26, 1957, who remained the love of his life through 66 years of marriage. Thanks to the US Army, the couple honeymooned in Fort Niagara, NY, and Orleans, France where Jerry was stationed as a military police officer before settling back in Benton Harbor after being honorably discharged. In later years, he enjoyed participating in Lest We Forget.

By the time he passed on April 16, 2024, he and Carol had three children, Theresa (Brian Rich), Cynthia (Jason Churchill), and Robert (Bonnie Babor). Jerry was exceptionally proud of his grandchildren, Zachary and Dr. Alyson Rich.

Jerry had a special relationship with each of his children and loved to spar about the issues of the day. With Theresa, there was plenty of political sparring. He says she is the only Democrat he ever gave a campaign contribution and was over the moon thrilled when she was elected Farmington Hills Mayor. With Cynthia, there were very special Friday evening date nights where they would argue about the issues of the day. He was so proud of her artistic talent and success as owner of The Gallery Salon. Jerry loved to see Cynthia perform and thought she has the voice of an angel. And with Rob there was an incredible camaraderie that was solidified when they went to California together for nearly six months.

Jerry’s grandchildren were the light of his life. He was so proud to have been in the delivery room when Zach was born. Even though the grandchildren lived three hours away, he was there for nearly every school play, birthday, graduation, and on the sidelines for a bunch of sporting events. Delighted to see his grandchildren become adults, special moments were Zach’s election to the Farmington School Board and when Zach gave him a tour of the US Capitol. Special Aly moments were being in Pennsylvania for her White Coat Ceremony and watching her graduate from medical school via zoom.
Yes, we could go over how Jerry loved to reminisce about his paperboy days and that he could fold and toss a newspaper with precise accuracy while riding on his Cushman motor scooter. We could talk about his multiple businesses and how Lake Michigan College made him finally graduate because he had amassed nearly double the credit hours required. How he loved wrestling, Saturday morning flying with his buddies for breakfast, and guys’ trips sailing the inland waterway down to Florida. The family prefers to put our focus on the very special legacy of his community work, particularly with the YMCA, the Lions Club, Citizens Mediation Services, Twin City Players, and the Salvation Army. At one time, family counted that he was on at least 15 different boards at the same time, including the United Way for Southwest Michigan! He so loved his community that he became a devoted volunteer who made a positive impact.

Jerry found his refuge as a kid by going to the Benton Harbor YMCA. He worked there as a teen and became a Golden Gloves boxer. He had his picture in the paper many times for his achievement in boxing. Jerry, who was also known as “Big O”, was a fierce handball competitor and would play every chance he could. He was very proud of the trophies he won in handball tournaments. On the afternoon of his wedding and the birth of of his son Rob (“Little O”), he went to the Y to play handball. He switched to playing racquetball and had great pride when Rob eventually beat him. Jerry’s love for the Y resulted in his being invited to serve in volunteer leadership positions, even becoming the director and board president many times. He was particularly proud of being on the Building committee that designed and raised the capital to build the current YMCA Hollywood Rd. Some of the family’s happy memories are when he would pull up to the house every Friday night and Sunday afternoon and how the neighborhood kids would load up into the back of his pickup and go to the Y. The kids would run around the gym, he would play handball, and then everyone would meet up in the pool. In the meantime, the moms of the neighborhood would have a little time without kids.

As a young businessman, Jerry joined the Benton Harbor Lions Club and was a member for 58 years. He was awarded Lions International's top award for outstanding individuals in 2016: The Melvin Jones Award for his “tremendous contributions to humanity”. Part of Jerry’s legacy with the Lions is the Lions Foundation. During the 1980s, he and several of the Lions Club members decided what they needed was a permanent endowment that would provide services to the community for generations. Jerry and many of the Lions worked a weekly BINGO game that helped raise a million-dollar endowment. Today, the work of the Lions Foundation is seen throughout the region and will last for generations. He was also engaged in the Lions' core mission: helping people to see. As Sight Chairman, every Wednesday for several decades, Lion Jerry met with thousands of Benton Harbor residents who could not afford eyeglasses. He loved to hear people tell their life stories and to help them qualify for a free eye exam and free eyeglasses. In addition to their voucher, they would always get a lesson on “paying-it-forward.” He also helped raise Leader Dogs and take dogs to Leader Dog School.

Jerry would have been a heck of an attorney. He served as a Volunteer in Probation, a citizen probation officer, for many years. Way back before restorative justice became the commonly used term it is today. he helped found Citizens Mediation Services, a nonprofit to offers low-cost or no-cost mediation services to local parties. Nearly every week, he met with disputing parties to help them find a resolution in a way that was markedly less costly than litigation and would help parties find common ground. Over the years, he mediated thousands of matters with no pay.

Jerry’s involvement with Twin City Players began in a funny way. Beloved wife Carol scored her first community theater role when she tried out to be “Bloody Mary” in South Pacific. The theater bug bit Carol and she became a regular: singing, dancing, acting, and even directing. Jerry always wanted to see her perform and quickly found that if he ushered, he could see her productions for free. But he was still at home alone while she was at the playhouse for rehearsals. So Jerry started hanging out more at the theater. He got curious about how lights and sound work was done, so he started hanging out in the booth. That curiosity led to doing lights and sound at dozens of productions even if Carol wasn’t in the plays. However, if Carol was there, he wanted in! His work led to recognition as an Unsung Hero by Twin City Players.
Finally, service with the Salvation Army was a natural fit for Jerry. He first became associated with their work as Allocations Chair of the United Way. Their present home is in the old Benton Harbor Y” building where Jerry essentially grew up. His favorite event of the year was Christmas gift day when qualifying parents/grandparents/guardians would come in and select Christmas gifts from among the donated toys, books, and games. Jerry was Father Christmas personified when the team would amaze with the additional gift of a bicycle! He absolutely loved how local resident Mohammed Ali would participate in the gift day with them and was delighted when The Champ autographed a couple of items for him. The Salvation Army leadership over the years also helped Jerry spiritually. He treasured his philosophical discussions with the various majors over the years and specifically asked Lt. Mario Bledsoe to be the one to officiate his funeral. We like to think those conversations helped him find peace.

Jerry always thought that flowers belonged in the ground and that giving flowers at funerals was a colossal waste of money. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send a gift of support in his honor to the Salvation Army, Benton Harbor-Fairplain Lions Club, or the Twin City Players.