Jerry J. Bartz, 71, of W. Kraft Road, Tomahawk passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at Camp JB, their family’s hunting shack.
Jerry was born May 28, 1955 to Irvin and Elsie (Kahle) Bartz, and was baptized in Christ on July 29, 1955. He attended Tomahawk Schools and graduated in 1973. He was united in marriage to Kim Mott on June 28, 1980 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tomahawk, where he was also confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Jerry started working in high school shearing trees for Ed Behling, later worked at the Tomahawk Sports Center, and was employed by his Uncle Gene at H & S Service Center. He concluded his working career as a maintenance supervisor at the Tomahawk Mill, retiring in 2016 following 32 years with them. He recently acquired a part time job at Edgewater Country Club, taking pride in his mowing.
Jerry was a jack of all trades. He enjoyed fixing and building stuff, spending time in the woods, and doing masonry projects for family and friends. He was always willing to help anyone with anything! Jerry loved hunting, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, golfing, and attending all events that involved “his girls.” He continued his family’s baseball legacy through high school, competed in slow-pitch softball into adulthood, coached his daughters’ softball, cheered on his granddaughters, and worked on the construction and maintenance of the Tyler Kahle Memorial Field, where he also served for years on the Board of Directors.
Jerry will live on as a local legend. If he wasn’t related to you, he quickly made you feel like family. No matter where he went, he made friends with everyone! He found pleasure in teasing and telling bad dad jokes. Jerry’s smile and laugh were contagious! He is also known to others as Bartzie, JB, Big Jer, Jer Bear, Crabby Jerry, and his most precious titles, Dad and Papa. Jerry valued hard work, quality craftsmanship, punctuality, integrity, and service to others.
Surviving are his devoted wife, Kim; two daughters, Sadie (Kyle) Sutter of Blue Mound, WI, and Abby (Andy) Kraklow of Tomahawk; five granddaughters, Camryn, Elsie, Riley, Finley, and Livi. He is further survived by four siblings, Laurie Albrent, Mount Horeb; Patti (Rudy) LaNou, Tomahawk; Andy (Dee) Bartz, Tomahawk; and Lenny Bartz, Tomahawk; and a sister in law, Tracy Bartz of Tomahawk. He is also leaving behind many nieces and nephews, and close family friends, whom he treated as his own. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Ricky.
Funeral service for Jerry Bartz will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 11:00 a.m. from St. Paul Lutheran Church. Pastor Stephen Gillet will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, October 5th from 4 pm until 7 pm at the Krueger Nimsgern Funeral Home, and again on Tuesday, from 10 am until the time of services at 11:00 a.m.
