RUNKLE, Jerry C.

SHERER, RUNKLE, SMITH, HIGDON, MICHAEL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/26/2016 at 00:03:22

BIOGRAPHY ~ JERRY C. RUNKLE
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

Jerry C. Runkle was born on September 27, 1915, in Monona County, Iowa, the son of Jerry Franklin and Chloie M. (Sherer) Runkle.

After receiving his B.S. degree from Iowa State Teachers College, Jerry Runkle began his academic careers as a teacher at high schools in Iowa for four years and completed his M.A. in economics in 1942 from the University of Iowa. Jerry joined Graceland's faculty in 1942, teaching mostly of Graceland's business education and economics courses before the start of the college's four-year program. He developed a reputation as a hard grader.

When Graceland experienced a shortage of dormitory space fron 1946 to 1948, Jerry opened the upstairs of his home to six male students, including future RLDS president Wallace B. Smith. As the college started to offer four-year programs, Jerry shifted his teaching focus to economics courses and was named assistant to president William T. "Bill" Higdon in the spring of 1965. In the 1970's, Jerry joined Frank Hough in leading the first winter term trip to Europe, taking Graceland students to Soviet bloc countries for the first time. Jerry also served as a non-appointee RLDS Lamoni Stake president for several years.

During the 1978 commencement ceremony in which he retired as professor emeritus, Jerry was named the first recipient of the Alumni Award for Outstanding Teacher.

Jerry met Wilma Irene Michael at the Woodbine RLDS Reunion. They were married on August 19, 1938 and became the parents of two children, Jerry Michael and Jane Catherine. After Jerry's retirement in 1978, the Runkles moved to Independence, Missouri.

In 1990, Graceland awarded Jerry an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

Jerry died on October 9, 2006. Wilma Irene (Michael) Runkle was born near Woodbine, Iowa, on August 24, 1915, and died on November 15, 2011. They were interred at Magnolia Cemetery, Magnolia, Iowa.

SOURCES:

Edwards, Paul M. "The Hilltop Where. . . An Informal History of Graceland College." Pp. 59, 128. Venture Foundation. Lamoni IA. 1972.

Goehner, David. "The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z." p. 435. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

Wilma Irene (Michael) Runkle obituary

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

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