Obituary of Gerald H. Ristow

Here he lies where he long’d to be, Home is the sailor home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill.

Gerald “Jerry” Ristow of Waukesha passed away on September 17, 2023 at the age of 90 years old. He was born on August 24, 1933 in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, son of Homer and Avis (nee Hines) Ristow. After graduating from New Lisbon High School in 1951, Jerry enlisted (at the age of 17 with signatures from his parents) into the U.S. Navy and proudly served 3 years as a Flight Engineer with Aviation Patrol Squadron VP-23. Jerry met the love of his life, Julaine “Jill” (nee Summerfield), when the two of them were studying to be teachers at Juneau County Normal School. They wed on July 14, 1956. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from UW-LaCrosse and his Master’s Degree in Administration from Winona State University. Jerry spent all of his career in the Elmbrook School System, and was the Principal of Brookfield Elementary School for 36 years. Upon retirement in 1990, Jerry enjoyed his hobbies of fishing, hunting, camping, gardening and traveling and has shared many stories from his days with the Eagle Springs Canoe Club and the Brandywest Hunting Gang. Jerry and Jill became “Snowbirds” and spent 25 winters in Ft. Myers, Florida at America Outdoors. Jerry was a wonderful father to his three children and a loving grandfather to his five grandchildren. He taught them all how to be adventurous, dedicated and kind. He encouraged them to follow their dreams, enjoy life and live by the Golden Rule. He was a loyal friend, neighbor and member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Waukesha and the American Legion Post #103 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Jerry will be deeply missed by his wife of 67 years, Jill; his children Linda (Dave) Hall of Delafield and Patrick (Kris) Ristow of Waukesha; his grandchildren Kelsey Hall, Dana Hall (David Feifarek), Mallory Hall, Dylan Ristow and Garrett Ristow. He is further survived by his sister, Eileen Stickney, of New Lisbon, his sister-in-law Helen Summerfield, of Sparta, his “Thai Daughter”, Jaroungpon Hoonsiri, of Bangkok, his cousins and many wonderful nieces, nephews and life-long friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Clyde Stickney Jr, brother-in-law Evan Summerfield, niece Sandy Summerfield and his daughter, Susie. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask donations to be made in Jerry’s honor to the Susan Ristow Memorial Fund. This fund honors the memory of Jerry’s daughter at the Medical College of Wisconsin and supports initiatives in cancer care and cancer research: https://www.mcw.edu/departments/microbiology-immunology/giving On Saturday, September 23, 2023, visitation for Jerry will be held from 10:00am until the start of services at 11:00am, at Cesarz, Charapata and Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd, Waukesha, WI 53188. Continuing service for burial and Military Honors will be at St. Paul Cemetery, S30 W30032 Cty Rd DE (Corner of Snowdon Rd and DE), Town of Genesee.