Richard Jerow

Richard Joseph Jerow, was born to eternal life on July 9, 2010, at Bell Tower Residence in Merrill under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services and the Bell Tower Staff.

On August 23, 1923, Richard was born to Frank and Cecelia Jerow in Ironwood, Michigan .  He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the South Pacific in the Marine Air Corps. He flew with and played cards in the control tower with Tyrone Power.  He was the navigator on the observation flight over Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped.   He was part of the occupation forces in Japan after the war ended.

Richard was married to Patricia Evenstad on August 12, 1947, in Chicago .  Richard and Patricia raised their children on a hobby farm in Ironwood, Michigan .  In 1960 the family moved to Kaukauna , Wisconsin .  Richard enjoyed camping, hunting, flying his own plane with his wife and dog, and golfing ( scoring 3 aces in his golfing career).

In 2006 Richard and Patricia moved to Bell Tower Residence in Merrill.  We always knew that our Dad would be a challenge to care for and the Bell Tower staff was up to the task. We know that they will miss his humor and the daily challenges he presented.

He is survived by eight children: Bonnie Jerow (and friend Dave) of Germantown, Jim (Sunny) Jerow of Davenport, Washington, JoEllyn (Mike) VanLieshout of Merrill, Kathy Dutcher of Oshkosh, Patty (Dick) Garbelman of Shawano, John (Sharon Bertschi) Jerow of Alexandria, Virginia, Thomas Jerow of Rhinelander, and Richard Jerow of Hurley; ten grandchildren: John (Katie) VanLieshout, Becca (Jesse) Polar, Kate (Craig) Papke, Cecelia Jerow, Richard Jerow, Steven Dutcher, Angelica (Peter)Alger, Elizabeth Jerow, Melanie Jerow, Bernadette(Todd) Kokely; and six great-grandchildren: Harper, Rowan, Emma, Ayla, Noah and  Nykola.  He is further survived by one brother-in-law, Donald (Jeanne) Evenstad of Ironwood, Michigan , and one sister, Katherine Hill of Asheville, North Carolina.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Patricia, brothers Bill, Jack, and Gordon, sisters Irene and Lola, and son-in-law Jim Dutcher.

The funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Bell Tower Residence, 1500 O’Day Street , Merrill , Wisconsin .  Visitation will be from 10:00 until the time of service at 11:00 A.M.  The family would like to thank Bell Tower and Hospice services for their compassionate care of our father.  In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made to the Huss Fund at Bell Tower Residence, 1500 O’Day Street , Merrill , Wisconsin 54452 or Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Service, Wausau , Wisconsin . The Waid Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Online tributes may be made at www.waidfuneral.com .