Obituary
Henry “Hank” J. Jerzak, age 86, of Porter, MN, passed surrounded by his family on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at his home near Porter. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 8, 2021, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, MN. Burial will be in the St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery, Wilno, MN. Visitation will Sunday, November 7, 2021, from 4-7 p.m. with a rosary at 4 p.m. and prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN, and will resume Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Henry “Hank” James Jerzak was born September 20, 1935, to Frank and Mary (Czapski) Jerzak in Limestone Township in Lincoln County, Minnesota. Hank passed away on October 31, 2021, at home surrounded by family. Hank was the eighth of eleven children. The family moved when Hank was six months old to their family farm in Alta Vista Township in Lincoln County. Hank went to school district number 33 until eighth grade. After graduation, he continued farming with his family.
He was baptized, received first communion, confirmation, and was married at St John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno, Minnesota. On August 16, 1956, Arlene Joan Reiners and Hank were united in marriage; to this union, they were blessed with two daughters, Brenda and Becky. They lived in Taunton, MN, where Hank worked at Doc Kerr’s feed mill and delivered feed and, in the spring, would deliver baby chicks; he then worked for Dr. Pennings feed mill in Taunton. He also belonged to the Taunton Fire Department. In 1962, Hank started his long-time career and life-time love of farming crops and also milked cows for 25+ years.
Henry lived for farming and especially loved harvesting in the fall; so many of our memories were created in the fields! He was a very meticulous farmer, and his favorite saying was, “Do it right the first time!” He also enjoyed caring for all of his animals, including his cows and pigs and every other animal his grandchildren begged to have, which included a miniature pony, donkey, numerous deer, turkeys, chickens, roosters, fish, dogs, and cats. His boys are very special to him as they love the farm as Grandpa did. Henry was very witty and had an answer for everything as well as the gift of gab and BS.
He blessed everyone in his presence with his knowledge, humor, and abundant and expressive story-telling skills. He will be greatly missed, but we all have memories to last a lifetime!
Grateful for having shared Henry’s life is his loving wife of 65 years, Arlene Jerzak; and their two daughters, Brenda (Ron) Meulebroeck of Taunton, MN, and Becky (Tom) Noyes of Porter, MN. Brenda and Ron welcomed two daughters and their family, Renee (Mike) VanHecke and daughters, Melanie and Marisa, and Kari (Jeff) Bengford and three children, Max, Abby, and Ruby. Tom and Becky welcomed five children in their family, McKenzie (Ethan) Kack and child, Barrett, and Denver, Shane, Morgan, and Gavin. He is also survived by special family friends and neighbors, Deb and Mark Boulton and children, Jodi, Laura, and Michael; brother, Norbert Jerzak; sisters-in-law, Audrey and Frances Jerzak, and Mary Knutson; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Jerzak; sisters, Irene Winters and Adeline Brown; infant sister, Alice; brothers, Victor, Emil, Eugene, Andrew, Cyril, and Richard; brothers-in-law, Raymond Brown and Tony Winters; sister-in-law, Bernice, and nephew, Jason Jerzak; special aunt and uncle, Steve and Francie Jerzak, whom he lived with and helped them; father and mother-in-law, Harm and Hannah Reiners; and brother-in-law, Allen (Al) Reiners.
Hank was a great husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, and friend. Blessed be his memory.