Jerome Henry

Jerry Henry Born in Wisconsin Rapids, WI on October 10, 1924. Departed on October 27, 2010 and resided in Wausau, WI. Jerome "Jerry" J. Henry, 86, Wausau, died October 27, 2010, commended in the love and comfort of his family and the dedicated caregivers at Sylvan Crossings on Evergreen. Jerry was happy when working hard or sharing his inventive brand of fun, and his greatest hope in this world was for social justice. Jerry was born October 10, 1924 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., to Mabel (Witte) and Frank Henry. He grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, attended Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and began his career as a lumber operator with Frank J. Henry, Inc. of Wisconsin Rapids. On October 20, 1951, he married Mary Denise Heenan in St. Ignace, Mich., who predeceased him in 2004. During Jerry's career in Wausau, he was a project manager for Wergin Company and later became general manager for Gritz Builders, Fluor Bros. Constr., and AP Wisconsin. He managed dozens of construction projects in Wisconsin for churches, hospitals, schools, public works, etc. Notable among them were the Bell Tower Residence in Merrill; Wausau Hospital Center; the Physical Education Building at UW-Stevens Point; and his alma mater Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. As an active Kiwanis Club member, Jerry was instrumental in coordinating the Great American Circus, invented the game of Kiwanis Chips for nursing home residents unable to participate in bingo, and arranged steak-night trips to his native Wisconsin Rapids. He had 10 years' perfect attendance and served a year as Kiwanis president. He was also a past president of Toastmasters. One of Jerry's life passions was reading, and he became known for going through the whole collection of fiction books in the Marathon County Library in reverse order from Z to A. His favorite authors ranged from William Saroyan to Dr. Seuss. Jerry enjoyed playing basketball into his 70's and refereed kids' games at the YMCA. Among his favorite pastimes were pinball tournaments with his granddaughters, and inventing dice games and dumb-luck card games. Jerry was an accomplished drummer and a lifelong devotee of jazz and big band music with a collection of about 15, 000 titles. Serving in the U.S. Navy 1944-47, Jerry witnessed the aftermath in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, of the first cities in history destroyed by atomic bombs that the U.S. used near the end of World War II. Jerry firmly supported peace over war, opposed unethical corporate and political practices, and championed the cause of the poor and disadvantaged. Jerry's lasting guidance for his children and grandchildren and those whose lives he touched may best be summarized in the words of U.S. President FDR: "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." Survivors include three children, Jeffrey (Patricia) Henry, Eau Claire, Michael Henry, Florida, and Mary Beth (Frank) Arnett, De Pere; four grandchildren, Megan (Tom) Dahl, Erin (Tim) Lynnes, and Caitlin and Lauren Arnett; one great-grandchild, Claire Dahl; one brother Franklin Henry, of Prince Edward Island, Canada; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his wife and parents, Jerry was preceded in death by one sister, Kathlyn (Henry) O'Brien, a gifted social worker who resided in Appleton, Wisconsin. The funeral will be held at 11:30 am and visitation at 10 am on Monday, November 1, 2010 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wausau, with Pastor Nancy Russell Johnson presiding. Memorial donations may be directed to The Neighbors' Place, 745 Scott St., Wausau, WI 54403. Peterson/kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.peterson/kraemer.com