Gerald D. “Jerry” Kufahl, age 89 of Shawano, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, June 20, 2025, following a day filled with joy, love, laughter, and reliving many happy memories. Jerry was born on October 19, 1935, in the Township of Texas, Marathon County, Wisconsin. He was the ninth of eleven children born to Martin and Clara (Voege) Kufahl. Jerry was raised on the family farm in Marathon County. He attended country school and graduated from Wausau High School with the Class of 1953. Jerry served in the U.S Army including time in South Korea. His working career began at Wausau Papers in Brokaw, Wisconsin. He went on to work with Morning Glory/AMPI in Shawano, starting as a field manager and working his way up to
purchasing manager. Jerry enjoyed working closely with the dairy farmers of the region. On June 9, 1962, Jerry was united in marriage to Lucille “Lucy” Schulz at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin. Jerry and Lucy recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. They began their life together in Merrill before moving to Shawano in 1972. Jerry and Lucy raised four children and were active members of St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano where they attended church regularly with their children. Jerry was a servant of the Lord, serving on many committees at St. James Lutheran Church and School. All four of their children attended St. James Lutheran School. In retirement he and Lucy made it a point to travel to new places while they could. The
American West was their favorite area to visit especially Yellowstone and Alaska. As a family we all laugh at the memories of our family trip out west during the 1976 energy crisis where he refused to pay more than $0.70 per gallon. We ran out of gas on a dirt road on the Wyoming/Dakota border. Two cowboys drove Dad to the nearest gas station, which was not close, and brought him back with a few gas cans. He ended up paying $0.76 per gallon! That story always makes us smile! Jerry and Lucy were very family oriented and made it a priority for their family to visit with grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins on a regular basis. He fostered good relationships with his nieces and nephews and made it a point to stay connected with several of them right up to his passing. Jerry was a great father, teacher, and role model, guided by faith and dedicated to his family. He was honest, humble, kind, and patient. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, loved their visits, and shared all that he could with them. Jerry made sure to share stories of family history and lineage with his children and grandchildren less we do not forget who we are and where we came from. He was a true Wisconsinite, proud of his beautiful state, its history, people, and stories. Jerry rarely missed a radio or television broadcast of the Milwaukee Brewers and was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers. He enjoyed playing cards and cribbage. No Kufahl gathering was complete without several games of cards, just as they did on evenings back on the farm in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Jerry enjoyed music and playing piano by ear and instructions from his sister, Lois. He loved to sing while playing the piano and “Teddy Bear Picnic” was one of his favorites. Jerry often sang it to his children as they went off to school and also shared it with his grandchildren who would text or call him, letting him know today was the day the Teddy Bears were having a picnic. Jerry loved to read and enjoyed books from Jerry Apps about life in rural Wisconsin. Jerry was a good and caring person. He loved and cared for his wife, children, grandchildren, and the family he came from. Jerry was a devoted husband to Lucy, serving as her caretaker for the past several months. At the age of eighty-nine he learned to cook and manage the household chores. Jerry created his own recipes for cookies which received rave reviews from his son-inlaw and grandchildren. He never gave up on Lucy, the love of his life, telling the doctor in his final days, “I am ready for the Lord to take me, but right now I need to get well to take care of Lucy.” He will be greatly missed by all of us and remembered for everything he did to make our lives richer, happier, and more fulfilling.
Survivors include his wife, Lucy, of Shawano; his children, Debbie (Steve) Theis of Shawano, and their children Jacob (Kelsie), Nick, and Isaac; Kevin (Carolyn) Kufahl of Watertown, WI, and their children, Haden (Hailey), Cade, and Tiffany; David (Amy) Kufahl of Neenah, and their children, Bailey, Caitlyn, and Mason; and Rebecca (Jim) Trudeau of Appleton, and their children, Samuel and Zachary. He is further survived by his brothers, Marty (Audrey), Cliff, and Doug (Judy); and his brother-in-law, Harold “Bucky” Schulz. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Orpha, Mildred, Dorothy Barkus, Lorna Seefeldt, Hazel Anklam, Gertrude Wood, and Lois Hackbarth; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.
A funeral service for Jerry will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 1:00 pm at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Pastor Andrew Zobel will officiate. Interment will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery in Shawano. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am at the church and continue until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, the family prefers memorials in Jerry’s name to the Salvation Army or the American Red Cross.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements.
Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfscom. “Jerry’s family would like to thank the compassionate staff at ThedaCare. They made this difficult time easier to assimilate. The empathetic and caring communication from Dr. Rusk was exceptional.
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