Jerry

Zouski

My father wasn’t too keen on the idea of an obituary, so we are going to call this an essay of remembrance.

Gerald E. Zouski was born on March 31st, 1951. Jerry grew up in a big family. Three brothers and four sisters. During his childhood, his parents, Joe and Irene, earned a living through multiple different ventures in various towns around the central Wisconsin area. They owned a farm. At another point, they ran a bar. They involved the kids in the family businesses. Jerry reminisced about having to do chores on the farm before school and then again when they returned home. They might not have had material wealth, but they never lacked love. One of Jerry’s favorite childhood anecdotes was, “One year for Christmas I got a baseball glove. The next year I got the baseball. “. Jerry graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. Jerry was inducted into the US Army in 1971. He served with the 709th Military Police Battalion in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1973. Once out of the service, Jerry threw a leg over the motorcycle he had bought and had shipped over from Germany and headed west. You could always hear the enthusiasm in his voice when he recalled stories from those adventures. Often a smile that hinted at mischief would accompany it. He married Cheryl Zouski on October 9th, 1976. (They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.) Three years later, they had a son named Adam. Jerry found a career at Consolidated paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids. He worked there for over 30+ years, through multiple different responsibilities, positions, and changes in ownership. After retiring, he kept active. Golfing, fishing, gardening, traveling with Cheryl, and spending time visiting family. He loved seeing and spoiling his grandchildren.

Opa!! Jerry absolutely loved being an Opa. The love he showered upon the grandchildren was unmatched. Spending time with Elle in the garden picking “TeeMos”. Taking the kids fishing. Hitting the golf course with them to show them the great game. He was an amazing Opa. He loved the kids with his whole heart. Corny jokes and funny voices abound. The smile the kids put on his face could light a thousand rooms. He showed them how important family was through kind actions and the gift of your time. Those lessons will never be forgotten.

My Dad taught me so many things. He provided so many opportunities. Some of the lessons he taught were never embraced, through no fault of his own. Most of them have shaped who I am and who I’m striving to be. He had his foibles, but we all do. I saw him learn lessons and grow from it. I hope I can emulate that positive growth.

Excuse me as I ramble through some memories for a bit. Some of them seem to become more ephemeral with the march of time. Some of them seem more tangible and vivid today than ever. I hope my recounting of them can spark some positive memories of your own of My Dad.

One of the earliest childhood memories are of fishing at Red Bridge and catching a huge dogfish. It was one of the most alien-looking things I had seen up to that point in my life. My dad helped me haul it to shore. Proud exclamations echoed when we finally landed it.

My dad took me hunting for the first time. Us huddled together in Grandpa Melvin’s motor home, as more than a foot of snow covered the forest we were parked in. My Dad starting the engine every couple of hours to run the heater. Having my first successful hunt the next day in a winter wonderland.

So many road trips and overland adventures that it would be tough to document them all. Here is a small sampling. A trip to Ohio’s King Island with a stop in South Bend, IN, to see the Notre Dame campus. Taking the motor home to Georgia/Florida as we attended Gary and Rocky’s wedding, Aunt Lucy tagging along. All sorts of destinations, all sorts of family fun. Experiences only a family can laugh at years in the future. The stuff that makes the stories worth telling.

I remember My Dad introducing me to the game of golf. Summers spent at Tree Acres honing our skills. Our father/son sojourn to Myrtle Beach, SC, my junior year of high school. The first long road trip where I could help share the driving burden. Staying on the beach. Playing a variety of different courses in varying weather. Watching Darvin Ham break the backboard during the NCAA’s, ocean waves adding to the applause through our open patio door. The golf course became one of our favorite places to convene and connect as the years went by. His great joy of being able to add the grandkids to our group in more recent times. He loved the game and the opportunity it provided him to spend quality time with those he cared about.

I recall many years of fishing trips to Canada with my friend Brady Kluck and his father, Kevin. Amazing fishing. Questionable weather. Cards and a LaBatts. Seeing the biggest musky we had ever seen, as it moved through the shallow water and weeds next to our boat. Retelling the story of that 55-inch+ fish. Hearing the story being told by My Dad years later about that 70-inch monster.

Memories of My Dad coaching my Little League team. Of us having a catch in the front yard. Walking over to Oak Park to take some batting practice or working on fielding grounders. Listening to Uecker and the Brewers on the radio. Traveling tournaments. Summers spent at the ball field.

Recent memories of how excited he and Oma were when they found out they were going to be grandparents. How much help they were to us new parents. My Dad helping with odds and ends around the house. Anything to stay busy and take some items off our plate. He loved making breakfast for the family. And everyone always craved his signature omelettes.

So many memories. So many days, months and years being blessed with the opportunity to make them.

Jerry, Opa, My Dad. He was a man of multitudes. He loved his family. He enjoyed spending time with them; immediate or distant, blood or marriage, those he’s known for years or those he had just met. People who he embraced as family, even if they were not related. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was welcome and included. That is how we can keep his memory alive. By passing on his caring spirit. We can follow his lead by bringing kindness and inclusion to our everyday lives. With those intentions leading the way, we can make positive impacts with our friends, family and communities. Those impacts, and the kindness they are based upon, shall keep his memory alive and thriving in our hearts.

Jerry is survived by his wife Cheryl, son Adam (Melanie), grandchildren; Elle, Cass and Ryan, siblings: Sharon (Jerry) Kizewski, Joseph (Anne) Zouski, Steven (Roberta) Zouski and is further survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Irene Zouski, sisters Loretta (Jerry) Wojcik, Carol (Bryl) Heinen and Deanna Pittman. The family recently lost brother-in-law Jerry Kizewski on Nov 8th, 2026. 

Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting family at this time.  Online condolences may be expressed at MWCS.WS