Gerald Menzel

1934 - 2025

Gerald Menzel
Born: February 17, 1934
Died: April 3, 2025 in McHenry, IL
Gerald "Jerry" David Menzel, 91, passed away peacefully April 3, 2025 in McHenry, Illinois. Jerry, the youngest of six children, was born February 17, 1934 in Park Falls, Wisconsin to Carl and Alice Menzel.
Jerry grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He played college football as an offensive lineman at the University of Colorado, Boulder until he returned to Wisconsin in 1954 to marry his soul mate Patricia "Pattie" Isherwood. Soon after, he joined the military to serve in the Korean War as part of the National Security Agency (NSA) and upon his return from active duty in Hawaii, he finished his bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. He then received his master's degree from the Institute of Labor & Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois. After his graduation in 1960, Jerry and Pattie moved to Ohio for his first job in Personnel with International Harvester and had their daughter Laure Rae. In 1962, they moved back to Wisconsin to be near family, and Pattie gave birth to their two sons, Philip Karl and Jay Gerald. In 1969 they moved to the Chicago suburbs to raise their family in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. In 1972, Jerry moved into the world of executive search leading his own firm Menzel, Robinson & Baldwin for over 25 years. Jerry & Pattie retired in their early 60's and enjoyed what he recently described as "the favorite decade of his life" centered around time with his beloved Pattie, traveling the world and serving others through volunteerism. In 2003, Pattie was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Jerry cared for her in their home until she passed away in 2010. Through all those years he never left her side. After losing his beloved Pattie, Jerry continued to enjoy life as he remarried, returned to traveling, wintered in Bonita Springs, Florida and spent summers with his family at the Cottage in Power's Lake, Wisconsin.
First and foremost, Jerry cherished his family and gave everything he had to support and love them. He was a handsome "Big" man standing 6'6" and carried a personality to match his stature. In addition to his wife and family, he was passionate about politics, travel, faith (he loved singing in the church choir into his 90's), poodles, his work, military heritage, food (he loved to eat), and staying active (he started skiing in his early 40's and played Bocce Ball in his later years).
Preceded in death by his cherished wife of 56 years Patricia Rae, nee Isherwood; his parents; three sisters: Jane Burgess, Betty Alleman, and Vera Eichstaedt; and two brothers, Harold "Bud" and Bruce.
He is survived by his daughter, Laura (Jerry); sons, Philip (Ellen) and Jay (Susan); five grandchildren: Ray (Annie), Katie, Margaret, Julia, and Tricia; and two great-grandchildren, Flora and Colleen; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his former wife, Kathy Vacco.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Gerald's memory to either the American Heart Association at: www.heart.org or the Alzheimer's Association at: www.alz.org
The family will have a memorial service in late May at Windridge Memorial Park and a private gathering afterwards.