Gerald Zehner

Gerald (Jerry) Zehner, age 95 of Chetek, passed away on Thursday, November, 12, 2020, at Meadowbrook at Chetek.

Jerry was born February 6, 1925, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, to Roy and Elizabeth Zehner. The family moved to the Chicago area in 1926. There, Jerry attended school, then worked for Borg-Warner Corp. for 40 years, retiring in 1982 as Director of Purchasing.

Jerry served in World War II and was a Gunner on a B24 Bomber while stationed in Italy. He flew 30 bombing missions over Europe and was awarded the Air Metal with 4 (four) Oak Leaf Clusters.

He purchased his lakefront home in 1966 and moved to Chetek permanently in 1983.

He became interested in area lakes and served as President of The Chetek Lakes Protection Association for 20 years. He liked to snowmobile as well and represented Barron County at the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs. He also served as President of the Chetek Snow Flyers Snowmobile Club. In addition, his hobbies were golf and Ham Radio.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Elizabeth Zehner, and his wife, Jena; by his second wife, Judy; a brother-in-law, Vic Pech and a sister, Marion Nicolsen. 

He is survived by sisters, Lillian (Bill) Klasen and Bette Pech, both of Fresno, California; a stepdaughter, Danae (Ralph) Walneck of Woodridge, Illinois; 2 step-sons, Jeff and Jay Leusman and many step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren.

Visitation and a Prayer service will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at the Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M. with a Prayer Service at 11:00 A.M.. Interment will take place at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin with full military honors at 1:00 P.M.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Meadowbrook of Chetek for their care of Jerry. 

Arrangements were entrusted to the Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Chetek, Wisconsin. 

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