Gerald "Jerry" W. Laska

Gerald “Jerry” W. Laska, 81, Wausau, died Sunday, December 24, 2023 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Jerry was the 12th in a family of 13 children.  He was born February 10, 1942 in Stevens Point to the late Alvin and Laura (Frydack) Laska and when he was about three years old the family moved to Wausau.  He went into the Army in December of 1962 and served three years as a Nike missile guidance engineer.  While in the service he attained sharpshooter status on both a rifle and carbine.  He also worked on electronics systems, became a Ham radio enthusiast and collected QSL cards from all the states and many different countries.  After returning from service, he worked at Wausau Paper Mill and stayed 36 years.

On May 27, 1967 he married Kathleen Powell and had two lovely children, Daniel and Christine.

Jerry loved going “Up North” with the kids,  camper and boat and spent many hours helping teach them how to water ski. When Jerry got in the boat he would shout “To the Moon!” as he hit the throttle and we would all laugh. He also loved vacations in the camper with the family and never found a tree he didn’t like.  Each year he would pick a place and off they would go.  Disney World was one of his favorite places to take the kids and grandkids, even after the kids grew up.  Cruising was also a fun trip for Jerry, he enjoyed the shows they had for entertainment and the stops they made. He spent many years with the affliction of being a Packer fan.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen “Katie” Laska; two loving children, Daniel (Kimberly) Laska and Christine (Jason) Laska; grandchildren, Devin and Jack Laska; sisters, Loraine Hornung and Betty Booth, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Henry, Robert, Gene and Norbert and six sisters, Caroline, Delores, Theresa, Bernice, Margaret and Joanne.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 5, 2024 at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau.  Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau.  Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau, and again Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com