Jerry began square dancing in 1965.  He started calling a year later, while still in high school. 

For the next 20 years, he was the club caller for a number of clubs in northeast Nebraska and traveled as much as his farming operation would allow.  The spring of 1986 brought with it the decision to devote full time to calling square dances.

An accredited member of CALLERLAB since 1976, Jerry has served as chairman of both the Rural Area Considerations Committee and the CALLERLAB Foundation.  He was a member of the Board of Governors for nine years, having served on the Executive Committee six of those years.   He was Chairman of the organization in 1997 and 1998.  Re-elected to the Board in 2001, he is currently serving his fourth term.

Jerry firmly believes in the development of new callers and the continuing education of established callers.  He is co-author of a new book on choreography called, “Standard Choreography.” Designed with the newer caller in mind, it provides examples of danceable choreography from standard formations to assist in teaching new dancers.  As an accredited CALLERLAB coach, Jerry conducts caller schools and seminars around the country and is a permanent staff member of the Heart Of America Caller’s School held in  Kansas City, Missouri each summer.

During the winter months, Jerry and his wife, Sharon, make their home in Mesa, Arizona where he is the resident caller for three travel trailer parks.  While there, he maintains a complete program of square dancing from Beginners through A-2.

Jerry records for Chinook Records and has been the featured caller at many festivals and weekends around the country.  Traveling extensively during the summer months, he thoroughly enjoys the traveling side of calling and the many friends he has made throughout the activity.  He takes special pride in calling smooth, flowing choreography with the basic philosophy that.... "SQUARE DANCING SHOULD BE FUN."