Jerome F. Minzlaff

Jerome F. Minzlaff of Fredonia died Sunday, Nov. 18, at Aurora Zilber Family Hospice Center in Wauwatosa. He was 90.

Mr. Minzlaff was born in Marinette on April 29, 1928, to William and Laura Peth Minzlaff. The family later moved to the Milwaukee area. Mr. Minzlaff graduated from Shorewood High School.

After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin. His first tour of duty involved bringing troops home at the end of World War II.

On April 7, 1951, he married Lois Pearce at the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Peshtigo. The couple moved to Waukesha before building a home in Fredonia.

Mr. Minzlaff was employed at the Wisconsin Electric Power Co. plant in Port Washington as a mechanic. He retired in 1988 after 40 years.

After he retired, he enjoyed woodworking and spending time at his cottage in Crivitz. He always had a project going, from crafts and lawn décor to toys made for his grandchildren.  He was proud of the totem pole he built and placed in his back yard.

Mr. Minzlaff was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fredonia and the Warren Kane American Legion Post 410 in Fredonia.

He was an avid sportsman who loved to hunt and fish and who never missed cheering for his Wisconsin sports teams.

Mr. Minzlaff is survived by his wife Lois; children, Paul (Pam) of Big Bend, Kris (David) Born of Menomonee Falls and Jim (Sue) of Fredonia; grandchildren Eric (Jamie) Born, Bryan (Holli) Born, Dan Born, Elizabeth and Erika Minzlaff and Rebecca Minzlaff; and three great-grandchildren.

He is further survived by brothers Jerne (Judy) of Amberg, and Arling (Shari) Minzlaff of Sturgis, SD; and sister Ardis Yingling of Milwaukee.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Dennis Yingling.

A funeral will be held at noon on Friday, Nov. 23, at t St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fredonia. The Rev. Marshal Frisque will preside.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the church. An American Legion walk through will be at 11:30 a.m.  

Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery.

Memorials to St. John’s Day Care in Fredonia or the Aurora Zilber Family Hospice are suggested.

Eernisse Funeral Home assisted the family.