Gerald “Jerry” O. Beilfuss, age 85 of Clintonville passed away Wednesday morning, October 16, 2019 at Shawano Health Services.
Jerry was born on February 14, 1934 in Shawano County as the son of the late Ewald and Margaret (Strutz) Beilfuss. He grew up attending school in Shawano and met his future wife Patricia “Pat” Klose at a school basketball game. What started out as an argument over Pat’s brother’s play during the game, turned into a wonderful marriage spanning 59 years as the couple were wed on January 24, 1960 at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Jerry worked for Urban Telephone in Shawano and later in Port Washington for Simplicity where he built lawnmowers. While in Port Washington, Jerry proudly built a home for his family and worked other various jobs in the community. While traveling through Clintonville one day, the couple noticed a restaurant for sale named Weiland’s and they decided to purchase it with Jerry’s brother; later constructing a new building to operate their now named “Jerry & Jim’s Restaurant”. After splitting the family business, Jerry and Pat renamed the restaurant “Jerry & Pat’s”. The couple will also be remembered in town as having run the Landmark Hotel for a number of years. Jerry and Pat lovingly opened their home to 28 foster children over the years. They were members of St. Martin Lutheran Church in Clintonville where Jerry made meals for the Men’s Lenten Breakfast along with catering numerous events in the area. In his spare time Jerry enjoyed dancing with Pat receiving a #1 ranking at the Fox Ballroom in Cecil at one point. He also enjoyed golfing, traveling, and bowling over the years.
Survivors include: his wife, Pat; daughters: Kathy (Paul) East, Tammy (Dan) Beilfuss, and Lynn (Todd) Zeinert; sons, Steve (Mary) and Scott (Ashley) Beilfuss; grandchildren: Mark (Kara) East, Molly East, Jeremy (Ashley) Beilfuss, Jessica (Lucas) Stuhr, Joel (Jami) Beilfuss, Riley and Allison Zeinert, and Alex and Addison Beilfuss; and great-grandchildren: Suri, Alana, Sawyer, Bentley, Jada, and Jonah. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Marvin (Beatrice), Harry (Wilma), Allen (Adeline), and Jimmy; sisters, Elaine (Arnold) Gueths and Ruth Scherf, and a grandson Brian East.
Jerry’s memorial service will be held Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the St. Martin Lutheran Church in Clintonville with Rev. Brian Weber officiating. Inurnment will be at Graceland Cemetery also in Clintonville at a later date. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established by Jerry’s family. Jerry’s family wishes to extend a special thank you to Heartland Hospice and Shawano Health Services for their wonderful care during Jerry’s stay. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting his family. www.eberhardtstevenson.com