Gerald ‘Jerry’ Engeleiter

Gerald Herman “Jerry” Engeleiter, of Somerset, WI, passed away peacefully surrounded by family April 22, 2017 after fighting a courageous six year battle with cancer.

Jerry was born July 18, 1951 in West Bend, WI, to parents Herman and Esther Engeleiter. He graduated from Kewaskum High School in 1969, and graduated in 1973 from Carroll University in Waukesha. In 1977, he earned a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Jerry is survived by his children, Jennifer (Seth) Kahler, Brian (Kyle Krueger) Engeleiter, and Rebecca (Nick Forsgren) Engeleiter; grandchildren, Avery and James Kahler; friend and former wife, Susan Shannon Engeleiter; sisters, Mardell Rauh, Diane Bartelt, and Naomi Engeleiter; business partner and friend, Terri Green; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Jerry served for many years as a vice president for The St. Paul Companies. He volunteered to coach his children’s youth basketball teams and cherished the connections he made sharing his basketball knowledge with his players. In 1995, Jerry founded the Great Northwest Basketball league, working tirelessly to expand the opportunities for hundreds of youth players to enjoy the game throughout the state of Wisconsin. He adored his family and dogs; Cody, Ainsley, and Autumn, and liked to watch sports, always rooting for the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers. Jerry loved landscaping and gardening on his beautiful, wooded property in St. Croix County. He had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes and making people laugh.

An open house celebrating Jerry’s life will be held Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 12:00-3:00 PM at Mama Maria’s, 800 N. 6th St., North Hudson, WI. Please send memorials to the University of Minnesota Foundation-Masonic Cancer Center or University of Wisconsin Foundation-UW Athletic Department.