As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it feels especially meaningful to honor one of the individuals who started it all–Investors Realty co-founder, Jerry Heinrichs. Jerry officially retired from day-to-day office life on July 31.

Jerry’s contributions over the last five decades are immeasurable. As one of the pillars of IRI, Jerry helped build not just a company, but a culture rooted in integrity, consistency, and care. His steady leadership, investment expertise, and quiet humor have touched every corner of the business, and every person lucky enough to work alongside him.

Though Jerry is stepping away from his daily office routine, he isn’t fully hanging it up. He’ll continue to focus on REIT transactions and 1031 exchanges from home and will still hold his license with Investors Realty. And yes, he’s still open to lunch invitations.

To celebrate his extraordinary impact, we turned Jerry’s final week in the office into a full “Week of Jerry.” From start to finish, the week was filled with gratitude, memories, and a few of Jerry’s favorite things.

We kicked things off with his drink of choice, Dr. Pepper, alongside Snickers and Babe Ruth bars. One lunch featured PB&J and braunschweiger sandwiches (don’t worry, not together), and another morning brought bagels and donuts for the team to enjoy. A special yard sign and office decorations marked the occasion, and we closed the week with a celebratory lunch surrounded by employees and Jerry’s family.

The lunch was topped off with carrot cake, Jerry’s favorite. Team members shared heartfelt messages, while a few of his longtime partners sent in touching video tributes recognizing the lasting mark Jerry has made on the commercial real estate community in Omaha. He was sent off with thoughtful gifts from the entire office, including gift cards to his go-to restaurants, a few celebratory beverages, and a framed photo from IRI’s 50-year celebration signed by the whole team – ready to be displayed in his new home office.

Several colleagues also shared reflections that beautifully capture the impact Jerry has had:

“One of the many lessons learned from Jerry is that you need to ‘walk the land,’ you can’t just drive by or look at the aerials. It is amazing what you learn and see when you walk it.” -RJ Neary, Past President

“Jerry, this has been a bittersweet day for me. Words can’t adequately express my gratitude for your leadership. I’ve only had one job in my career, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate that it’s been here at Investors Realty. Thank you for making IRI a place that’s both fun and rewarding to come to each day. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.” -Ryan Zabrowski, President

“Jerry, you have been an inspiration and a great mentor. Thank you for everything you’ve done to help me and everyone else in the office! Your wisdom and experience are irreplaceable. You’ve helped create a culture that is unsurpassed, and I’m grateful to have been a part of Investors Realty. It’s not just a culture where the client comes first—it’s a place where all of us have been able to excel to our fullest potential.” -Lee Ehlers, Broker

As we wrapped up the celebrations, Jerry shared a few words of his own with the team:

“A big thank you to all of you who made my retirement celebration such a positive event—especially Bobbie, who did an excellent job of making Jerry Week a continuous event that I will always remember.

Investors Realty is a great place to work. It is full of nice and talented people who work hard to do their job. The company has good management and good leadership, making it a pleasant place to work. I have always enjoyed working at Investors. I will miss all of you.”

Jerry, thank you for pouring your heart into Investors Realty for five decades. Your leadership, humility, and client-focused dedication have shaped this company and inspired us all. We’re so grateful for your example and are excited to see what this next chapter holds for you.

To reach Jerry going forward, he can still be contacted at jheinrichs@investorsomaha.com.

This article appeared in our company newsletter in September of 2025. Please click here to download the entire newsletter.