William J. Spray "Jerry," 73, died on September 5, 2009 at his home in Grafton, Wisconsin from Leukemia. Jerry was born on March 1, 1936 in Boone, Iowa, to Floyd and Elinor (Buzby) Spray of Indianola, Iowa. The Spray family has a long history in Indianola, dating back to the 1800s. The family was known for their involvement in the grocery business and operating the Spray Opera House in the early 1900s. Jerry had great affection for his childhood and Indianola in particular.

Jerry was the oldest sibling in his family. He is survived by his brother, Steve Spray and sister-in-law, Deanna Spray of St. Louis, Missouri, and his sister, Mary (Spray) Moorman and brother-in-law, Bill Moorman, of Indianola, Iowa.

Jerry graduated from Indianola High School in 1954 and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1958. In college, he met his wife, Carolyn (Fors) Spray, and was married in 1958. After college, Jerry became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. In 1959, he took a job with the Meredith Publishing Company in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1967, he began working for Foster and Gallagher, a catalog company, in Peoria, Illinois, and was promoted to the position of Vice President. In 1974, Jerry moved his family from Peoria to Wilmette, Illinois and became President of Down's Collectors Showcase, a mail order gift company. In 1978, he moved the company and his family to Wisconsin and settled in Mequon where he lived for 20 years. Jerry later retired in nearby Grafton, Wisconsin.

A loving husband, father, and grandfather, he is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Fors) Spray; son, Gregory Spray and daughter-in-law, Laura (Sander) Spray of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his daughter, Elizabeth (Spray) Chandler and son-in-law Douglas Chandler of Libertyville, Illinois; and four grandchildren, Jeffrey Spray (age 22), Justin Spray (age 21), Emma Chandler (age 8), and Ethan Chandler (age 5).

Jerry was known for his sense of humor, his love for movies, books, the Chicago Cubs, and playing fantasy football with his family and friends.

A public viewing will be held at the Overton Funeral Home in Indianola from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2009. Graveside services and burial will be held 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 16, in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a memorial to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society would be appreciated.