Obituary for Gerald Joseph "Jerry" Salzman
Gerald Joseph Salzman
March 11, 1942 – August 3, 2023
Gerald Joseph Salzman of Cudahy, Wisconsin died on August 3, 2023. Gerald, known to his family and friends as “Jerry,” was 81 years old. Jerry was the first born child to Joseph Albert Salzman and Hazel Lucille Utermarck who operated a dairy farm in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
After graduating in 1960 from Randolph High School, Jerry entered the U.S. Navy in order to serve his country and see the world from the bow of a ship. Jerry proudly served aboard the USS Mazama as an EM3 from October 1961 - December 1964 participating in fleet exercises along the Atlantic seaboard and Caribbean Sea. His unit was deployed during the Fall of 1962 as part of the Cuban Blockade during the Cuban missile crisis, and again in August 1964 to the Mediterranean Sea during civil unrest in Cyprus that threatened peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Following his active duty, Jerry served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from January 1965 to January 1966. Jerry married Bonita Nadolny on June 19, 1965 and settled in Cudahy, Wisconsin. The couple had two children, daughters, Michele and Sherry. Jerry loved his family and always remembered them on special occasions with flowers and cards for Bonita, and cards, calls and, later, text messages with kissy emojis to his daughters. Jerry worked hard to provide his family a good life.
After his Navy service, Jerry continued his education at Milwaukee School of Engineering, and at Milwaukee Area Technical College and through an electrician apprenticeship. He worked as a Master Electrician for Buge Electric and Gerald Nell, Inc. specializing in commercial electrical applications. Jerry loved working on large, complex machinery! After retiring from his “day job,” Jerry started his own business, B&J Electric, LLC. He enjoyed helping family and friends with their commercial, residential and farm electrical needs. Jerry maintained his Master Electrician license and was doing electrical work through his 80th year of life!
Hunting, trapshooting, antiquing, family genealogy, rebuilding classic cars and riding motorcycles were hobbies Jerry enjoyed. He was an expert marksman and won several trap shooting tournaments. Jerry was also an avid waterfowl, pheasant and turkey hunter, and enjoyed hunting with his daughter, Michele. Jerry once shot two toms with one trigger pull, earning him the nickname “turkey slayer”! Jerry was a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Lake View Gun Club and the Fox Valley Retriever Club.
Jerry also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends. One summer, prior to retiring, Jerry and two of his buddies had a grand adventure driving their motorcycles from Wisconsin to the northernmost point of Alaska! In his retirement, he took many trips to visit his daughters and connect with relatives for his genealogy research.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonita (Nadolny) Salzman, his daughters, Michele Salzman and Sherry (Jeff) Salzman Scott, and his American Water Spaniel, Beckey Lei. Jerry is further survived by his brothers, Albert (Nancy) Salzman, Eugene (Betsy) Salzman, and sisters, Barbara Salzman, Debbie Strassburg, Sandy Salzman-Miller, and Ginene Kamps, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Hazel Salzman, his niece Ursula, and his hunting dogs, Ginger, Cocoa, Shane and Maggie Mae.
Per Jerry’s wishes, he will be buried at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, Wisconsin with full military honors. A memorial gathering will be held at Hartson Funeral Home in Hales Corners, Wisconsin on August 23, 2023 from 10:30 am-12 pm with a memorial service at noon.
The committal service with military honors will be held at 2 pm in the committal shelter at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery with burial to follow.
Friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, his family requests memorial donations for Jerry be made to the Wounded Warriors Project or the National Wild Turkey Federation.
March 11, 1942 – August 3, 2023
Gerald Joseph Salzman of Cudahy, Wisconsin died on August 3, 2023. Gerald, known to his family and friends as “Jerry,” was 81 years old. Jerry was the first born child to Joseph Albert Salzman and Hazel Lucille Utermarck who operated a dairy farm in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
After graduating in 1960 from Randolph High School, Jerry entered the U.S. Navy in order to serve his country and see the world from the bow of a ship. Jerry proudly served aboard the USS Mazama as an EM3 from October 1961 - December 1964 participating in fleet exercises along the Atlantic seaboard and Caribbean Sea. His unit was deployed during the Fall of 1962 as part of the Cuban Blockade during the Cuban missile crisis, and again in August 1964 to the Mediterranean Sea during civil unrest in Cyprus that threatened peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Following his active duty, Jerry served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from January 1965 to January 1966. Jerry married Bonita Nadolny on June 19, 1965 and settled in Cudahy, Wisconsin. The couple had two children, daughters, Michele and Sherry. Jerry loved his family and always remembered them on special occasions with flowers and cards for Bonita, and cards, calls and, later, text messages with kissy emojis to his daughters. Jerry worked hard to provide his family a good life.
After his Navy service, Jerry continued his education at Milwaukee School of Engineering, and at Milwaukee Area Technical College and through an electrician apprenticeship. He worked as a Master Electrician for Buge Electric and Gerald Nell, Inc. specializing in commercial electrical applications. Jerry loved working on large, complex machinery! After retiring from his “day job,” Jerry started his own business, B&J Electric, LLC. He enjoyed helping family and friends with their commercial, residential and farm electrical needs. Jerry maintained his Master Electrician license and was doing electrical work through his 80th year of life!
Hunting, trapshooting, antiquing, family genealogy, rebuilding classic cars and riding motorcycles were hobbies Jerry enjoyed. He was an expert marksman and won several trap shooting tournaments. Jerry was also an avid waterfowl, pheasant and turkey hunter, and enjoyed hunting with his daughter, Michele. Jerry once shot two toms with one trigger pull, earning him the nickname “turkey slayer”! Jerry was a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Lake View Gun Club and the Fox Valley Retriever Club.
Jerry also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends. One summer, prior to retiring, Jerry and two of his buddies had a grand adventure driving their motorcycles from Wisconsin to the northernmost point of Alaska! In his retirement, he took many trips to visit his daughters and connect with relatives for his genealogy research.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonita (Nadolny) Salzman, his daughters, Michele Salzman and Sherry (Jeff) Salzman Scott, and his American Water Spaniel, Beckey Lei. Jerry is further survived by his brothers, Albert (Nancy) Salzman, Eugene (Betsy) Salzman, and sisters, Barbara Salzman, Debbie Strassburg, Sandy Salzman-Miller, and Ginene Kamps, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Hazel Salzman, his niece Ursula, and his hunting dogs, Ginger, Cocoa, Shane and Maggie Mae.
Per Jerry’s wishes, he will be buried at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, Wisconsin with full military honors. A memorial gathering will be held at Hartson Funeral Home in Hales Corners, Wisconsin on August 23, 2023 from 10:30 am-12 pm with a memorial service at noon.
The committal service with military honors will be held at 2 pm in the committal shelter at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery with burial to follow.
Friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, his family requests memorial donations for Jerry be made to the Wounded Warriors Project or the National Wild Turkey Federation.