Dr. Jerry LeVerne Jochims, 83, of West Burlington, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following a brief illness.
Born on December 14, 1942, in Holstein, Iowa, Jerry was the son of LeVerne and Evelyn (Bauer) Jochims. Along with brother Jeff and sister Joelle, he was part of a proud farming family in the close-knit community of Holstein. Jerry graduated high school from the Holstein Community Schools in 1960, enrolling as a music major at the University of South Dakota. Jerry soon had a calling for medicine and was accepted to the University of Iowa Medical School in 1963, receiving his medical degree in 1967. While in medical school, he joined the United States Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant in the Aerospace Medical Institute. Following an internship at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from 1967–1968, he was called into Active Duty in 1968 and earned his Designated Naval Flight Surgeon status in 1969. Jerry was always proud of his Naval service and especially fond of his years piloting helicopters as a Flight Surgeon. During his service, Jerry earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation and National Defense Service Medal. Honorably discharged from the Navy in 1969, he served as a Resident and Fellow at the University of Iowa College of Medicine through 1975. Jerry was admitted to the Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1976.
In 1975, Jerry founded the first orthopedic practice in Southeast Iowa — Orthopaedic & Reconstructive Surgery Associates, P.C. He was joined a few years later by partner Koert Smith, MD, who would go on to be one of Jerry’s closest lifelong friends. Jerry proudly practiced medicine for almost 40 years, retiring in 2013.
In 1964, Jerry married Anita McKaughan (Fleming). They later divorced. Their 20+ year marriage resulted in four boys — Jeff, Chris, Greg and Mike. In 1989, Jerry married Debra J. DeSpain Phillips, to whom he remained married for almost 37 years until his death.
Raised with a Midwest farmer’s work ethic, Jerry seldom stood still. He was a proud and active ambassador for Southeast Iowa and his adopted hometown of Burlington, at different times serving as a Board Member or Delegate to the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, the Burlington Economic Development Corporation, Burlington Downtown Partners, Burlington Bees Baseball Association, Southeastern Community College Board of Advisors, the Iowa Medical Society, and The Board of Councilors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, among others. In recent years, Jerry was an active member of First United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities, but most proudly as a member of the Church Choir. He also enjoyed performing with the Silver Singers.
He was honored with innumerable prestigious civic awards and recognitions over his lifetime, including the 1990 Iowa High School Athletic Association Sports Team Physician of the Year, the 1998 Mississippi Valley Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen of the Year, the Professional Baseball Trainers Association 20-year service award in 2006, and the Greater Burlington Partnership Emmy in 2017.
Jerry always prioritized time with his boys and supporting them, his stepchildren Jeffrey Phillips and Melissa (Johnston) Phillips, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jerry spent countless hours with family and friends at his beloved New Crystal Lake Club, coached many kids’ sports teams (if not always to winning records), and rarely missed a family, school, sporting, or club activity if he was available. There are few, if any, members at the New Crystal Lake Club that won’t recall a fond story with Jerry in a duck blind.
Making the most of his retirement, Jerry returned to his farming roots by taking up the “hobby” of raising elk with friend Henry Bohlen in West Burlington. He continued to actively hunt with his kids and grandkids and remained an active volunteer. His most fond retirement activity, though, may have been traveling the world with wife Debbie, visiting Vietnam, Russia, Peru, the Amazon, Galápagos Islands, taking river cruises through Europe, traveling to Iceland, and many other far-flung destinations, and returning year-after-year to their treasured two weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii, where they ceaselessly hosted friends and family.
Survivors include: wife Debbie; brother Jeff (Lin) of Holstein, IA; sons Jeff (Margo) of Pittsburgh, PA, Chris of Burlington, Greg (Shelley) of Burlington, and Mike of Cypress, TX; two stepchildren, Jeffrey (Annie) Phillips of Burlington, and Melissa (David) Johnston of Falls Church, VA; seventeen grandchildren — Alexa, Ryan, Lauren, Ava, Braden, Madison, Kaydence, Preston, Kylie (Ben) Brown, Brenna, Gabrielle (Matisse) Gaillard, Brant (Machaela), Ryan, Hayden, Riley, Addison, and Eila; nine great grandchildren — Kelton, Banks, Archie, Judge, Iowa, Louise, Nino, Sonny, and Rush; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joelle and brother-in-law Jim Johannsen.
The family will receive friends on Friday evening, February 20, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 421 Washington Street, Burlington, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Anthony M. DeVaughn officiating. Private family burial will be in the Jaggar Cemetery of rural Danville, Iowa. A luncheon will be held at the Burlington Golf Club following the funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the SCC Foundation and the First United Methodist Church.
Lunning Chapel is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.