Jerold “Jerry” Nelson Willmore

Jerold “Jerry” Nelson Willmore, entered this world amid celebration and fireworks on the fourth of July, 1933.  He was born an optimist with energy, passion, creativity, and courage.  He truly led nine lives, although he couldn’t overcome the ravages of time and Parkinson’s Disease.  Jerry passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026 surrounded by his family.

He came from humble beginnings. He was born in the depths of the Great Depression in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, to Ellis Delos and Susan Olive (Arave) Willmore.  He has two older brothers, Ellis Gaard and Edward Daniel.

Jerry received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Idaho State University.  He was a member of their championship boxing and debate teams and the fraternity Xi Theta Tau.  He played the lead in Brigadoon, where he met his first wife Sharlene Millward (later divorced).  Michele, his only daughter, was born the summer he graduated.

A two-year tour of active military service was next.  Jerry became the Chief Instructor and Executive Officer of the Army’s 82^nd Airborne Leadership Academy at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He completed 37 parachute jumps as part of his service and later moved to Washington, DC.  During this time, he married Beth Hawkes (later divorced) and they had four sons: Edward Joseph; Bradford Ellis; Jeffry Nelson; and Douglas Gaard.

In 1958, Jerry started working for Senator Frank Church of Idaho as his Chief Legislative Aide and went to American University.  He graduated with an M.A. and was a PhD. candidate in Public Administration.  Later he taught at the University of Maryland.

In 1961, Jerry was asked by President John Kennedy to lead the USDA Graduate School, which is now one of the largest continuing education program in the world.  In the process, he found his professional passion, coordinating and conducting leadership conferences for federal executives.  Conference speakers included business and federal executives such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Mortimer Adler, Senators, and foreign dignitaries.  He eventually established his own management consulting firm, The Executive Institute, in Washington, D.C.

He and his brother Gaard partnered on real estate developments in the Northern Virginia area.  In addition, he created a side business with his boys restoring classic cars.  He was so proud of all his children and the extraordinary people they became.

In 1980, when the kids were all in college, he became restless and took a ski trip to Salt Lake City which became his permanent home.  There he renewed his pilot’s license and began flying his amphibious airplane.

Returning to his life-long passion of exploring the art and science of leadership, he founded Willmore Leadership Center and conducted conferences in the Intermountain West.  He consulted with organizations, public and private, along with families and individuals.  He donated his time to conduct 44 workshops at the Utah State Prison and numerous K-12 public schools, ultimately influencing over 15,000 people.  Right up until his last breath, he was making “one more edit” to his book, The Last Word in Leadership for Parents, Teachers and Managers.  He also developed a strong passion for working to ameliorate climate change as a global priority.

Working in the conferences, he met the woman that captured his heart and with whom he had a deep and enduring love, Tina Compton.  After working together for a number of years, they realized they were a perfect complement for each other and spent the last 25 years of his life together and tied the knot in 2007.  They enjoyed many happy years together that included work, family, music, travel, and running the canyon with their pups.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Tina; children Michele Mann (John), Joe (Cathy), Bradford (Mary Jo), Jeffry (Gail), Douglas (Annette); brother Dan; sister-in-law Shirley, eleven grandchildren: Clayton, Brett, Cerissa, Jace, David, John R., Dashiell, Pamela, Jack D., Kaitlyn and Benjamin, and twelve great-grandchildren.  Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gaard, and infant grandson Andrew.

We express our deepest gratitude to the caring staff at Sunrise Senior Living at Holladay and Inspiration Hospice for their assistance to Jerry during his last months.

A Memorial Program will be held Saturday, January 17, 11:00am at Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 S. 900 E., Murray, UT 84121.  A Celebration of Life Open House will follow there from 12:30-2:00pm.  Please feel free to attend either or both. The service for Jerold will be live streamed. Please return to this page right before the service and there will be a “Watch Service” button to watch live or at a later time. 

Per his wishes, he will be aqua-mated and his remains will be interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to Project Drawdown  drawdown.org or Habitat for Humanity Habitat.org.