Jerry Semler Death – Jerry Semler, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and chairman of the Indiana Historical Society passed away on Monday, July 24th, 2023 at age 86. He was announced dead by the Indiana Historical Society in a social media post that read “Our staff and board of trustees were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry Semler. His contributions as a trustee, donor, leader, volunteer, and friend were beyond measure.”
Who was Jerry Semler?
Jerry D. Semler worked for nearly 25 years in senior leadership at American United Life Insurance Co. He also served as a board member for numerous civic, commercial, charitable, and cultural organizations in central Indiana. Semler, an Indianapolis native, began working at AUL—now OneAmerica Financial Partners—as a management trainee in 1959. He quickly moved up the corporate ladder, rising to the positions of president, chief operating officer, CEO, and chairman of the board before retiring in 1991.
In 2004, he left his position as the company’s executive chairman, but he kept his chairman emeritus title. During Semler’s 24 years as executive chairman of the well-known corporation, which has a 38-story downtown headquarters, assets increased from $1.4 billion to more than $14 billion, and the company added more than 2,000 employees. In 2004, the Indiana Chamber honored him with the title of Business Leader of the Year.
About Jerry Semler
Semler was given the 2003 recipient of the IBJ’s Michael A. Carroll Award, which recognizes an individual who has shown tenacity, humility, and loyalty to the central Indiana neighborhood. Semler oversaw the boards of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indianapolis Downtown Inc., Visit Indy, the Center for Leadership Development, and the 500 Festival Foundation over the years. Additionally, he presided over the boards of Indiana Repertory Theatre and 500 Festival Associates.
He also served on the boards of Marian College, the Alpha Tau Omega Foundation, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Catholic Community Foundation, the United Way of Central Indiana, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the Purdue University President’s Council, and the IUPUI Management Council.
He most recently served as a trustee at Marian University, co-chairman of the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, chairman of the Indiana Historical Society, and board member at Conner Prairie. In 1958, Semler graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial economics. The Stanford University Business Executive Program later awarded him a degree. He was a devoted father to seven children, 28 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren throughout his 63 years of marriage to Rosie Reich Semler.
Jerry Semler’s obituary and funeral arrangements will be released by the family at a later date.
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