Procession and Funeral Honors Longtime Community Advocate
OnFocus – Jerald E. “Jer” Lang, 79, passed away tragically on Monday, April 5, 2021, near his home in the Town of Marshfield.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Sunday morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Marshfield, with Rev. Keith Kitzhaber and Deacon Ray Draeger officiating. After, Lang was laid to rest in Corpus Christi Cemetery, Bakerville.
During the procession from Sacred Heart church parking lot to Corpus Christi Cemetery, family and friends gave Jer one final pass through his beloved Jer Lang Show Palace.
Lang’s grandchildren served as honorary and active pallbearers. Military rites were conducted by the American Legion Post 54 of Marshfield.
Jerald was born on January 31, 1942, in Marshfield, to John C. and Regina (Pfahning) Lang. He was a 1960 graduate of Columbus High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving from March 12, 1962, until his honorable discharge on March 11, 1965. He married Diane H. Fisher on July 22, 1967, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Marshfield. She died on September 12, 1998. Later, he married Debara D. Wrensch on September 20, 2003.
Jer’s list of involvement in the community along with examples of his dedication to family and friends was extensive. He began his working career in Marshfield at Schalow’s Nursery around 1970 and was employed there until 1982.
Jer took a leap of faith in 1982 with a little help from his brother Jim and started his own landscape company, Central Wisconsin Landscaping and Yard Service, which he owned and operated for 24 years. Jer also maintained a small family-style guernsey farm of 40+ heifer cattle just to the south of the Marshfield city limits. Before and after his landscape work, Jer would tend to his own yard and his cattle.
Jer was involved in the Central Wisconsin State Fair serving on the Fair Board and Junior Fair Board for many years. He traveled around the state to many other fairs as well, giving countless hours to the program and its youth, even chaperoning at State Fair for the last 50 years.
Over these 50 years, Jerry accumulated countless awards from 4-H, showing his guernsey cattle, and honoring his volunteerism.
Jer was also involved in the development of the Marshfield Youth Wrestling Program in the mid-1980s alongside his nephew Pat Wingert and family friend Paul Needham.
Upon retirement from landscaping in 2006, Jer began his involvement with St. Vincent de Paul as a volunteer where he did everything from moving furniture, to selling brats, to serving as President of the board. He was instrumental in building the Transitional Shelter.
Learn more about Jer’s life here.
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: News Desk
This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected].
