Jerry G. Sullivan, Ashland, WI  (1931 - 2013)

June 3, 1931 - January 9, 2013
Jerry G. Sullivan, 81, of Saxon, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, surrounded by his loving family, at Ashland Health and Rehabilitation Center, following a courageous battle with lung cancer. He was born June 3, 1931, in Saxon, son of the late George and Lillian (Niemi) Sullivan, and attended school there. He was employed as a butcher/meat-cutter at Meredith and Corrigan Meat Market in Saxon prior to entering the U.S. Army on Nov. 19, 1952, and serving as a cook stateside in Seattle during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge as a corporal on Nov. 20, 1954, he resumed his employment at Meredith and Corrigan Meat Market and worked on the pipeline for a short time. He then was employed at Footville Meat Co. in Footville, WI, Provisions in Janesville, Triangle Pipe, Tube in Footville, Hull Meat Co. and Ringhand's Meat Market in Evansville, retiring in 1993 and returning to Saxon. In his retirement, he was custodian at the Saxon Community Center for many years.
Jerry was a member of Devin-Teehan American Legion Post 237 in Footville, prior to transferring his membership to Mercier-Kero American Legion Post 371 in Saxon. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved spending time with his family and grandchildren. On June 25, 1954, he married Anna M. Ableman in Ft. Lawton, WA. She survives.
Also surviving are four children: Merry Jo (Guy) Tanner of Cheneyville, LA, Bonnie (Les) Ritzert of Footville, Barry (Kathryn) Sullivan of Ashland and Peter Sullivan (Terry Wasti) of Trenton, ME; seven grandchildren: Gregory (Alana) Rankin, Amanda (Derek) Piwonski and their pug, Bella, Jonathan Sullivan, Anna Sullivan, Nathan Sullivan, Chase Sullivan and Jake Wasti; two sisters, Mary Anne Thurow of Saxon, and Dorothy Marchant of Kenosha; a brother, Ed (Judy) of Saxon; an aunt, Stella Niemi of Saxon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by two brothers, Johnny and Dan; and a sister, Margie Hallisey.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m., at the MCKEVITT-PATRICK FUNERAL HOME, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, MI, with the Rev. Don Nickolson officiating. Full military honors, accorded by the Mercier-Kero American Legion Post 371 Honor Guard, will follow.
Committal and interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Saxon, in the spring. Honorary pallbearers will be Barry and Peter Sullivan, Gregory Rankin, Jonathan Sullivan, Tim Krall and Les Ritzert. Condolences may be given to Jerry's family online at: mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to MCKEVITT-PATRICK FUNERAL HOME, INC., Ironwood.