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Portrait of Gerald W Kleinke
In loving memory

Gerald W Kleinke

July 7, 1938 – November 18, 2021
Lived 83 years
Union Cemetery Saukville · Saukville, Wisconsin
Life story

Mr. Jerry Kleinke of Port Washington passed away at Lawlis Family Hospice Center in Mequon Thursday morning, November 18, 2021. He was 83 years old.

Jerry was born in Fond du Lac on July 7, 1938, son of Wilbur and Marie Oppermann Kleinke. He grew up on the family farm in New Fane and attended local schools, graduating from Kewaskum High School, Class of 1956.

On December 13, 1975, Jerry was united in marriage with Jean Schultz at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Port Washington. Together they raised four children. Mr. Kleinke was a machinist at Bolens Mfg., retiring in 2008, and later took on a position at Port Washington High School as a custodian.

A faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Port Washington, Jerry had served as an elder, a deacon and an usher. He was a longtime member of the Port Washington-Saukville Jaycees. Jerry enjoyed working outside, playing baseball, shooting darts and playing cards… especially a good game of sheepshead! More recently, he loved spending time with his grandkids. He family will always remember Jerry’s love of sweets and his optimistic outlook on life.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Jean, children Daniel (Michele) Bichler of Random Lake, Cherie (Steve) Ewig of Port Washington, Phil (Lisa) Kleinke of Campbellsport and Scott Kleinke of Jackson. He is further survived by grandchildren Zach Kleinke, Amanda Bichler, Brad Bichler, Alysia Gibes, Hunter Kleinke and Taylor Kleinke, great-grandchildren Xavier and Scarlet Kleinke, sister Welda (George) Simousek of Sun City West, AZ, brothers Jim (Dianne) Kleinke of Hot Springs, AR and John (the late Diane) Kleinke of Fond du Lac, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:30AM on Saturday, November 27th at St. John’s Lutheran Church 217 Freeman Drive, Port Washington. Rev. John Klieve will preside. Jerry will be laid to rest at Union Cemetery, Saukville later that afternoon. The family will receive visitors at the CHURCH on Saturday from 9AM until services begin at 11:30AM .

If desired, memorials are suggested in Jerry’s name to St. John’s Lutheran Church Port Washington or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Jerry’s family wishes to thank the Aurora Medical Center and Lawlis Family Hospice Center for the exceptional care they provided to Jerry.

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The world Gerald knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1938
Born July 7
1939
Gerald was 1 when "The Wizard of Oz" opened in theaters
1944
Gerald was 6 when Allied troops landed at Normandy on D-Day
1959
Gerald was 21 when Barbie made her debut
1963
Gerald was 25 when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech
1977
Gerald was 39 when Star Wars opened in theaters
1982
Gerald was 44 when Michael Jackson released "Thriller"
1994
Gerald was 56 when "Friends" premiered
2007
Gerald was 69 when the first iPhone went on sale
2015
Gerald was 77 when "Hamilton" opened on Broadway
2020
Gerald was 82 when SpaceX launched astronauts into orbit for the first time
2021
Passed away November 18, age 83
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Union Cemetery Saukville
Saukville, Wisconsin
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