Jerome R. "Jerry" Ptacek

Ptacek, Jerome R. "Jerry" Jerry was born June 25, 1922 and passed peacefully September 11, 2011. He deeply loved Mary (nee Zimmer), his wife of 61 years; his children and their spouses, Robert, Daniel (Karla), Sandra (Jose). Teresa (Andrew), Thomas (Melissa), Carol (David), David, Gail (Scott), and Kurt (Edith); grandchildren, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Imogen, Lilian, Sara, Andrea, Annelise, Ian, Sophia, Anya, Kristen, Rachel, Jem'ma, Amelie, Brook, Caroline, Anthony and Eleanor. Jerry was trained to be a fighter pilot and navigator in the US Naval Air Corp. He served five years active duty and retired as a Commander after 18 years in the Naval Reserves. He earned a BS degree in history and later his CLU at Marquette-U. First he worked at Ladish, then taught at MATC for 25 years. He also worked as a life insurance agent. Though he served in WWII, Jerry was a pacifist at heart. He felt we should love all of humanity unconditionally. Jerry had an exceptional tenor voice. He sang in a Quartet, at weddings and to family. Jerry had a good sense of humor, loved to read, and take long walks along Lake Michigan with Mary. He always worked tirelessly for his family. His immediate family has already held a private service for Jerry. Others are invited to attend a celebration of his life. The date will be published in a future Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Death Notice. Memorials can be sent to a charity of your choice, or to our family and we will send them on to Care, Habitat for Humanity, or Doctors Without Borders.