Gerald “Jerry” A. Panosh, age 84, a Manitowoc resident, entered eternal life on Thursday, May 11, 2023 peacefully at his home.
Jerry was born Oct. 25, 1938 in Manitowoc, son of the late Alvin & Laura Panosh. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957 & served in the United States Army from 1958 – 1961 in the Far East & Japan. Jerry was a member of the American Legion Post 88 of Manitowoc. Jerry worked in various construction & manufacturing jobs after service until he joined the Manitowoc Fire Department in 1964. He retired in 1992 as a Captain & had also been one of the first EMT’s in Wisconsin. Jerry met Donna Kautzer who was teaching CPR to the Fire Department. They married in 1971.
Jerry was a long-time member of the Manitowoc Beagle Club. He judged trials & ran his own beagles in trials. He loved hunting with his beagles: Fire, Hunter, Brandy & Taffy, who were like children to him.
Jerry loved spending half the year at his cottage in St. Germain on Pickeral Lake where he hunted, fished & helped his wife in her flower gardens. He was a very active member of the St. Germain Primetimers & volunteered many hours at bingo, ice cream wagon, car show, work parties & Dragon Boat Festival. Jerry & Donna adopted 3 miles of highway along with the Lake Association & did garbage pickup for almost 30 years. He was a member of the Sayner/St. Germain Fish & Wildlife Club. Many joyful hours were spent playing sheepshead with friends & family. When Jerry was not at the lake, he enjoyed road trips across the country with his wife & beagles, the longest being a trip to Alaska & back.
Jerry was a long-time member of Redeemer Lutheran Church & associate member of Rock of Ages in Minocqua.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, Manitowoc, brothers-in-law, Richard (Barb) Kautzer, Manitowoc, Jim (Cheryl) Kautzer, Bella Vista, AR, sister-in-law, Rosemary Kautzer, Manitowoc, nephew, Robert Panosh & nieces, Kim Christensen & Karrlin Bain all of Green Bay along with numerous other nieces, nephews, and various cousins. He was preceded in death by parents, Alvin & Laura Panosh, brother, Robert Panosh, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ronald & Lucille Kautzer, and brother-in-law, Robert Kautzer.
Visitation will take place at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1712 Menasha Ave, Manitowoc, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Zachary DeArmond officiating. Following the service, Jerry will be laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc. Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Drews Bleser Post 88. Following the burial, a luncheon will be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center, Manitowoc, located on the southside property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Humane Society, or the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua, WI.
Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the Panosh family with funeral arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff of Aurora Hospice for the wonderful care and support they have provided to Jerry and his family, especially Tammy, Rachel, Tess, Tracy, and Jason who saw them through the most difficult time.
