Gerald O. “Jerry” Neinfeldt, 81, of Edgewood Ave., Elkhorn, died peacefully Oct. 11, 2019, and traveled on ahead to our heavenly home with his family gathered lovingly at his side.
Jerry was born on Dec. 1, 1937, in Janesville, to the late Otto E. and Freda C. (Gackstatter) Neinfeldt. He graduated from Janesville High School in 1955 and attended UW-Whitewater, graduating in 1959 with a degree in Business Education and Secondary Education.
He married Judith “Judy” in Elkhorn on Nov. 8, 1958. Judy passed away on Jan. 25, 2008. He taught business education at Pittsville High School, 1959 to 1960 and moved back to Elkhorn in 1960 where he taught business education at Elkhorn High School from 1960 to 1967. He received a Master’s in Business Education from UW-Madison in 1967 and became the first Business Manager for the Elkhorn Area School District. He held that position for 33 years until he retired in 2000 with a total of 40 years in education.
Jerry had a special interest in singing and theater and performed in high school and college productions and sang at numerous weddings and other local events. He was a member of Delta Kappa Fraternity and Theta Alpha Phi (National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity). He was a member of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) and sang with the “Corduroys” quartet. He was also a member of the Assoc. of School of Business Belfry Players, Inc. and the Kiwanis Club of Elkhorn. He attended St. John’s Lutheran Church and previously served as president and member of the church council. He served on the Board of Directors of the Frank Holton Band Instruments Co. and as Vice President of the Holton Foundation. He and his wife, Judy loved to attend musical productions, collect art and travel – particularly to Door County and Florida. They were proud of their children and grandchildren and their accomplishments.
He is survived by his three children, Laurie (David) Brown of Janesville, Tim (Cheryl) Neinfeldt of Elkhorn, Jennifer (Jason) Yurs of Fort Atkinson; six grandchildren, Melanie (Gabriel) Kollmansberger of Ixonia, Matthew Marzahl of Darien, Emily and Madison Neinfeldt of Madison, Victoria and Dawson Yurs of Fort Atkinson; one great-grandson, Wyatt Kollmansberger; sister, June (Bernard) Anderson of Janesville; sister-in-law, Joan Stockberger of Fort Wayne, Ind.; many nieces and nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Judy; his parents, Otto and Freda Neinfeldt; his in-laws, Elliott and Gladys Kehl; his sister, Shirley Sirek, and his brothers-in-law, Michael Sirek and Stephan Stockberger.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 104 S. Broad St. Elkhorn, with the Rev. Tom DeGroot officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory, 730 N. Wisconsin St, Elkhorn and on Wednesday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service. Interment will be at Hazel Ridge Cemetery in Elkhorn.
Memorials may be made in Jerry’s name to: UW Carbone Cancer Center, 250 Doctors Ct., Johnson Creek, WI 53038 or to Lakeland Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1000 Elkhorn, WI 53121. The online guest book is at haaselockwoodfhs.com.
