Gerald E. "Jerry" Wendt

Gerald E. “Jerry” Wendt, 75, of Rib Lake, died Thursday, December 16, 2021 at Aspirus Hospital in Medford. 

A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Medford with Rev. Ralph Shorey officiating.  Military honors will immediately follow the service at the church. Interment will be at a later date.  

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 12 p.m. Saturday at the church. 

Following the service at the church, all are welcome to join the family in “Celebrating a Life Well Lived” at Zondlo’s Bar in Rib Lake, where a meal will be served, stories and memories will be shared, and a few toasts to Jerry will be given. 

He was born August 28, 1946 in Milwaukee to Alfred and Alice (Schimmelpfennig) Wendt.  He grew up and attended elementary school in Freistadt.  He graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School. 

Jerry served in the U.S. Army from 1966 until his honorable discharge in 1968. 

On June 12, 1970, Jerry married Patricia Franke in (Freistadt) Mequon, WI where they resided for 27 years.  Jerry worked at AO Smith in Milwaukee until his retirement in 1997. 

In 2013, Jerry and Patty built a home and moved to Rib Lake on Little Spirit Lake…a place they knew well as Jerry had grown up visiting their family cottage since he was a child.  Jerry knew all the good fishing spots and could tell you the exact place where he caught every musky.   

Jerry was a past member of the Saukville Gun Club where he spent many years trap shooting.  He was also a proud member of the Z-Krew Hunting Shack, where he shared his love of hunting with all his good friends and family.   He also loved to fish.  His favorites where Lake Michigan and Lake Winnebago.  After moving to Rib Lake he spent many hours fishing Spirit Lake.  

In his final days at the hospital, Jerry acknowledged that he had a good life.  Indeed he did, and left many stories, memories to cherish and a wonderful legacy for his children and grandchildren. 

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Patricia of Rib Lake; daughter, Lisa (Mark) Gall of Saukville; son, Jair Wendt of West Bend; a brother, Richard (Cindy) Wendt of Rib Lake; sister-in-law, Nancy Wendt of Rib Lake; brothers-in-laws, Martin Franke of Hartland, WI and Steven Franke of Colorado; 4 grandchildren, Kaylie and Makenna Gall, Megan and Justin Wendt;  and by many family members and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Thomas Wendt.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated and will be designated at a later date.

Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.

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