Obit: Emmerich, Jay (1949 - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bailey, Dittrich, Emmerich, Huertienne, Lekies, Melland, Neva

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 10/29/2015

Emmerich, Jay (8 JUN 1949 - 23 OCT 2015)

Jay Emmerich, 66, of Trego passed away Friday, Oct. 23 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire surrounded by his family.

Born June 8, 1949, in Medford to Melvin and Myrtle (Huertienne) Emmerich and graduated from Medford High School in 1967. Jay went on to vocational school in Marshfield where he began his apprenticeship in plumbing. He progressed in his training to journeyman plumber in Medford under Kramer Plumbing & Heating.

On Oct. 23, 1971, Jay married Belinda Bailey in Medford and their daughter Joy was born in 1974. In 1980, Jay and Belinda headed north to the Springbrook area to begin their 20 year adventure as bar/restaurant owners of Jay’s Retreat on Gull Lake where they stayed until 2001, before moving to Trego. Jay successfully completed his Master Plumber certification and started a plumbing business, EMM1 Plumbing. Jay’s perfectionist approach to his trade made his business a success. In 2014, he retired and took on the “snowbird” status while traveling to Arizona in the winter months.

Jay and Belinda enjoyed spending winter months in Parker, Ariz. in their fifth-wheel RV. Jay had a love for water and loved their time at Sandbar Resort on the Colorado River. Each spring Jay attended the NASCAR race in Las Vegas and was a dedicated Packers Fan as well. He was known for his contagious laugh and his fun loving personality.

Jay is survived by his wife Belinda, daughter Joy Neva (Shaun) of Cumberland; sisters, Kaye Lekies (Dale) of Peoria, Ill.; Darla Dittrich (Ed) of Medford; brother, Mark Emmerich (Krissy) of Medford; four grandchildren, Jordan, Jacob, Ashley and Patrick Neva.

He was preceded in death by his parents and Joshua Lekies a nephew.

Pallbearers include Seth Lekies, Dale Lekies, Perry Emmerich, Terry Melland, Mark Emmerich and Ed Dittrich.

Services will be held on Friday, Oct. 30 at Scalzo/Taylor Funeral Home in Spooner with funeral at 11 a.m. and the visitation at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Earl Cemetery and a light lunch will follow at Wolf Point (formerly Jay’s Retreat). In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to the family.