Ivan Jerič was a priest and committed supporter of the Slovenian national interests. He fought in the 1. World War. He was actively involved with the movement of the annexation of Prekmurje to the Kingdom of SHS and fought alongside General Maister. He studied theology in Maribor. He was ordained a priest in 1924. He was a parish priest in Lendava, Turnišče and Murska Sobota, dean of the deanery in Lendava, vicar general for Prekmurje and honorary canon. He was an editor for the newspaper Novine and, between 1927 and 1929, a Member of Parliament for the SLS. He is buried in Dokležovje, and, in the square in front of the church, can be found his bust.