Jerome "Jerry" Simanek

With his loving family by his side, Jerome S. Simanek, “Jerry”, age 84, passed away Friday, June 17, 2016, at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Medical Center. He was born in Racine, September 10, 1931, son of the late Joseph and Frances (nee: Trochta) Simanek.

Jerry was a proud graduate of St. Catherine’s High School “Class of 1949”. He served in the U.S. Army as a Medic during the Korean Conflict 1952-1954. Jerry studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago for 3 years and worked as a commercial artist for Creative Concepts retiring in 1991. On July 2, 1960, he was united in marriage to Patricia A. Weyker at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Jerry was a longtime member of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church. An accomplished and talented artist, Jerry left behind many watercolor paintings to be treasured. In his spare time, he enjoyed working in the yard, gardening and woodworking. Above all it was time spent with his wife and family that he loved the most.

Jerry will be dearly missed by his wife, Pat; 5 children, Jolene (Jim) Verwey of Sturtevant, Janis (Kermit) Frecka of Racine, Andrew (Katherine) Simanek of Racine, Mark Simanek of Orlando, FL, Jennifer (Bryan) Crawford of Madison, WI; 10 grandchildren, Jared Verwey, Lauren and Karina Frecka, Kayla and Alexa Simanek, Henry and Emmie Simanek, Gabe, Lucas and Morgan Crawford; brothers and sisters, Sister Mary Alice Simanek, Sister Frances Simanek, Marjorie (Robert) Wood, Mary Jane Baumgardt, JoAnn (Claude) Wells; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Helen Simanek, Ruth Simanek, Tom Weyker, Jerry Weyker, Mary Hansen and Jeanne Menier; nieces, nephews, other dear relatives and friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers and sister, Leo (Lucille) Simanek, Joseph (Christine) Simanek, Valerian (Adeline) Simanek, Richard Simanek, Lillian (Ralph) Slaasted, Wencil “Jim” Simanek.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, 1903 Green St. on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Steve Verghase officiating. Relatives and friends may meet Tuesday at the funeral home 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday at the church 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. Entombment with Full Military Honors will follow at Holy Cross Mausoleum, Hwy 32. Memorials to St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church or St. Catherine’s High School girls volleyball program have been suggested.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff on 2C at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints, especially Dr. Carvin and nurses Heather and Rachel for all of their loving and compassionate care.