Anthony John "Jack" Hytrek

Anthony John 'Jack' Hytrek went to the Lord on May 24, 2025 after a long battle with dementia. Jack was born December 7, 1936 the youngest of 10 kids. His parents, John and Theresa Hytrek, were farmers in Stuart, Nebraska on the land that their family homesteaded.
Growing up in Stuart surrounded by family was a great life of hard work and hard play. His parents made sure there were lots of both and lots of love, which Jack continued with his own family. The Hytreks were known to play a mean game of pitch, to sing like the angels and to always help others.
When he was younger, Jack worked on the farm and first went to school in the country. He rode his horse Midgey to and from school most days. He just pointed her in the direction of the school and she took off. While in high school in Stuart, he was involved in all sports but also everything that had anything to do with music. He had a truck and was known to get called out of school to help someone move something. The whole football team would pile into the back of his truck for every practice and game.
Jack was the first of the Hytrek boys to go to junior college. After just one semester, he answered the call to serve his country. During his service, the FBI came to Stuart to ask his family and friends questions about his character, because he was being asked to listen to enemy communications and needed a high security clearance. Jack passed with flying colors.
After his stint in the Army, he went back to school to finish his degree. In the fall of 1962 at Chadron State College, he decided to go to the freshman picnic to find a woman and find one he did. He met Gayle Abel, the love of his life, and they were married four months later. They had four kids, eight grand kids and were happily married for 62 years.
Being a father was something Jack loved. His kids never doubted his love. He rarely yelled, made them laugh and taught them right from wrong. He had a lot of patience. He supported them in all their dreams, coached them in sports, went to all their activities and was there whenever they called. He was also there for his grandkids and had a special relationship with his oldest grandchild, Melissa.
Teacher, coach, and counselor, Jack's career was long and successful. He was a high school social studies teacher who coached every sport for several years. He then went on to get his master's and doctoral degree, so he could make an even bigger impact on students. He spent a majority of his teaching career in the education department at Peru State College in Nebraska teaching secondary methods, ethics, and supervising student teachers. He counseled countless students during this time to support them to success. He also taught at Regis College in Colorado, Chadron State College in Nebraska and Marian University in Wisconsin.
Jack and Gayle had time to do a lot of traveling and enjoy their retirement together. They traveled to Hawaii, Greece, Italy, Germany, Scotland, Europe and many more. They also traveled all over the United States making memories in every state.
Family was very important to Jack. As the '10 kids' got older, Jack spearheaded and organized Hytrek family reunions that included all night pitch tournaments, softball tournaments, horseback riding, talent shows, and lots of love and laughter.
Jack and Gayle lived in several states and many houses. During their marriage they moved 22 times. During their retirement they lived in Rapid City, SD and Casa Grande, AZ before moving closer to family in Wisconsin in June of 2023.
Jack always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say to everyone. His life was full of laughter and love. Anyone who met Jack fell in love with him. He was a great and amazing man.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle, and his four children: Lisa (Charles) DeLozier, Kristi (Ken) Vicchiollo, Brad Hytrek, and Jodi (Danny) Becker, six of his grandkids and many nieces and nephews, family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his nine brothers and sisters and his grandchildren, Melissa Diane Cecil and Lyndsey Nicole Becker.
His family will be forever grateful to the staff at Primrose Retirement Community and St. Croix Hospice for the love and care they gave Jack the past 2 years and especially at the end.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend services at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. Richmond St., Appleton, WI, on Monday, June 2, 2025. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A small luncheon and reception will follow the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at the Neshkoro Village Cemetery after the luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association in Jack's honor.
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