As a 13-year old, Jerry’s new step father would not let him live at home. He moved to live voluntarily with John and Jan Gillespie in their small rural farm house. Jerry was a good boy and big brother to the Gillespie’s first son, three-year old Steven. 

Space was a problem and the Gillespie’s were looking for a larger home they could rent and that search resulted in finding a very large home in the New London area. The move allowed them to take in more teenagers and became the Rawhide Boys Ranch. Jerry was the catalyst for a program that has helped thousands of boys since 1965. 

Now Jerry needs help. He has been battling an incurable leg rash from shortly after serving in Viet Nam. It seems to be a result of his exposure to Agent Orange. Two years ago he had surgery for a cancerous abdominal growth. During the surgery something cause a stroke resulting in months of therapy to be able to talk clearly. 

He lives alone in a 40-year old mobile home on a rural Appleton lot that he owns. In 2013 he qualified for a federally funded weatherization program to fix a leak in his roof. Three workers showed up and their efforts did nothing to stop the water leaks. They actually got worse. The water damage and mold growth has made it unlivable and unrepairable, especially since Jerry is already getting medical care for a breathing problem which makes the mold a life threatening development. 

Because Jerry owns his home & lot, he does not qualify for a veterans housing allowance, and is not eligible to move to one of the four veterans’ homes in the state. He has no savings. The home no longer has any value. He was getting a monthly veterans disability check but that stopped the end of May, 2014 because they determined his cancer was in remission. His total income is $734 a month from social security and $407 a month veterans disability benefit.