Gerald F. Garrigan

PORTAGE   --  Gerald F. Garrigan, age 81, of Portage, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Divine Savior Healthcare Hospital in Portage.

Jerry was born on March 6, 1936, in Ingalls, Michigan, the son of Gervase and Karolyn (Geigel) Garrigan. He graduated from Lena High School in 1953, and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.  Jerry married Darlene Krejcarek on September 26, 1959 in Coleman, Wisconsin.  He graduated from MSOE, and worked out of Racine, WI for Interstate Electric.  In 1980, the family moved  to Portage to open the Portage location.  Jerry retired in 2000.  He was a member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where he was a past board member.  Jerry was a member of Portage Rotary, having received the Paul Harris Award.  He was also a member of the Cleary Krech VFW Post #1707, Portage, the Richard Mulcahy American Legion Post #271, Portage, the Dr. C.W. Henney Knights of Columbus Council #1637, Portage, and various community organizations. Jerry enjoyed  memberships at the Portage Curling Club, having toured Scotland with the United States Senior Men.  He was also a member of the Portage Country Club. 

He is survived by his wife, Darlene Garrigan, of Portage; his children, Colleen (Daniel) Kutchin, Winneconne, Kathleen (David) Roadt, West Allis, Maureen “Mitzi” (Greg) Gerstenkorn, Portage, Donald (Kelly) Garrigan, Portage, and Daniel (Jennifer) Garrigan, Portage;  his grandchildren, Jacqueline Roadt (Kenny Savee), Jeannie (Kyle) Jelinek, Jason Gerstenkorn, Erica Gerstenkorn (fiancé, Joe Laffin), Kyra (Chad) Churchill, Dustan Garrigan, Kaisey (Andrew) Ackerman, Keagan Garrigan, Grant, Gabrielle, Genna, and Griffin Garrigan;  three great-grandchildren, Kailyn and Jordyn Jelinek, and Warren Churchill;  his brother, Michael Garrigan, Waukesha;  nieces, nephews, other near relatives and many special friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and four sisters, Mary Jane Behling, Dorothy Birk, Noreen Hendricks, and Patricia Garrigan, in infancy.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, which would have been Jerry’s 82nd birthday, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, with military graveside honors provided by Portage Area Veterans Honor Guard.  Visitation will be held on Monday, March 5, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and on Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Alliance of Wisconsin, 2825 Hunters Trail, Portage, WI  53901 or an organization of the donor’s choice.

The family would like to thank the staff at both Tivoli (Mother Mary) and Divine Savior Healthcare for the excellent care given to Jerry.