Obit: Jelinek, Thomas Charles (1939 - 2016)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Jelinek, Redlin, Voves, Ertman, Waterford, Lund, Cortez, Joseph

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/28/2016

Jelinek, Thomas Charles (21 December 1939 - 19 September 2016)

Thomas Jelinek, 76, of Neillsville, formerly of South Milwaukee, peacefully joined the lord our Savior Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield surrounded by friends and family members.

Thomas Charles Jelinek was born Dec. 21, 1939, in Milwaukee, the son of Edward and Lorraine (Redlin) Jelinek. He graduated from Bayview High School and went on to achieve his apprenticeship through the Steamfitters Local 601. Tom proudly served in the United States Air National Guard. He was united in marriage to Joyce Ann Voves Feb. 22, 1958, in Illinois. Tom worked 36 years as a steamfitter. He worked for many local contractors in the Milwaukee area, many times leading significant projects. Tom and Joyce retired in 1995 and shortly after moved to Neillsville. They traveled thousands of miles together before and after retirement.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville. He enjoyed traveling, hinting, fishing, traps shooting and loved to test out an unfamiliar county highway. Tom was known to tell a good joke or two; often when he started a sentence, there would be a ‘punch line’ at the end. He was a huge Packers fan looking forward to every Sunday’s game.

He is survived by two children: James (Debbie) Jelinek of Burlington and Julie (Ron) Ertman of South Milwaukee; five grandchildren: Nicole, Shawn, Ryan, Chloe and Nick; and a brother, Gene (Diane) Jelinek of Winchester; his companion Maxine Lund (Waterford) as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joyce in 2006, his son John in 1993 and his parents.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Tom will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville. The Celebrant will be Rev. Varkey V. Joseph. Music will be provided by Vicente Cortez, organist, and St. Mary’s Choir. Military honors will be performed by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council. Interment will be in Milwaukee. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, at the Gesche Funeral home in Neillsville.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Tom’s family with funeral arrangements.