John C. “Jack” Chenery IV

John C. “Jack” Chenery IV, a longtime resident of the Town of Grafton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 1, 2025. 

Jack was born on Jan. 11, 1945, the beloved son of Jack and Barbara (nee Griswold) Chenery in Natick, Mass. 

He was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Nancy Hughes, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Thiensville on Jan. 22, 1966. They were married for 56 years at the time of Nancy’s death in August 2022. 

He was the loving father of Katie (Chris) Rogahn and Patrick (Christy) Chenery; proud grandfather of Sr. Mary Agnes, Gwendolyn and Adeline Rogahn and Evelyn, Sophia, Joseph and Matthew Chenery, and devoted brother of his identical twin Carl (Diane) Chenery and younger brother Chris (Sarah) Chenery. 

Jack met his future wife Nancy in high school at the Milky Way Drive-In in Glendale. When Nancy had no ride home, Jack offered to take her all the way back to Thiensville. (That was before there was an interstate!) They fell head over heels for each other, and when Jack went away to college, they secretly wrote love letters back and forth. The two couldn’t stand to be apart though and soon got married. They raised two exceptional children and eventually moved to Grafton and built their beautiful home on Lake Michigan. 

With his father and brother Chris, Jack founded a very successful waterproofing business, Chenery Brothers Inc. He loved his work and was still working five days a week until the beginning of this April. 

He was a private pilot and his favorite hobby was flying and taking care of his Cessna 172 airplane while spending time with his flying friends at the hangar. 

Over the years, he spent time skiing with friends and family and was a former president of the Grafton Lions Club. 

He had a deep love for God and his Catholic faith. He had a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and regularly attended first Friday Mass and Adoration at St. Stanislaus parish. 

Jack made friends everywhere he went! Whether it was the post office, the bank or the gas station, he was known for his kindness and friendliness and always took the time to ask others how they were doing. He was incredibly generous in helping in any way any family member or friend in need. Most of all, he loved his family. Everything he did was ordered toward his family’s happiness and well-being. He loved birthday parties, holidays and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all his beloved family and friends. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 524 W. Historic Mitchell St., Milwaukee, WI 53204. Meet at the church. Jack will be laid to rest next to his wife Nancy at St. Francis Borgia Cemetery in Mequon, Wis. The family will greet relatives and friends on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Eernisse Funeral Home, 1167 Washington Ave., Cedarburg, Wis., from 4 to 7 p.m. with a rosary vigil at 7 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Stanislaus Oratory Milwaukee (Jack’s parish church), https://institute-christ-king.org/milwaukee-home; Missionaries of the Word-Religious Order (Jack’s granddaughter’s Order), https://www.missionariesoftheword.com; or Miles Christi-Religious Order (close friends with the family for many years), https://www.mileschristi.org, are appreciated. 

Online condolences can be forwarded to the family at www.eernissefuneralhome.com. 

Eernisse Funeral Home, Michael Schramka Associate, is assisting the family.