Gerald “Jerry” H. Tindall, age 74, of Twin Lakes, WI, died on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by loving family. Son of the late Gerald and Leona (Federmeyer) Tindall, Jerry was born on February 20, 1949, in Kenosha. His early childhood years were spent in Benet Lake but he considered Wilmot his hometown and lived there for many years. In May 1968, Jerry married Shirley Gandt and they had three daughters whom he adored. On January 21, 1989, he was united in marriage with Laura (Kucharzyk) Koenig. Jerry spent 35+ years of his career as a proud Union Operating Engineer in Locals 139 and 150, before retiring in December 2010.
One of Jerry’s favorite achievements was leading the 1966-1967 Wilmot High School varsity football team to an undefeated season (9 – 0) as Team Captain. His love of baseball led him to help coach the Lakeland Little League Dodgers between 1971 and 1975. He was also the manager of Lakeland Babe Ruth League Indians.
Over the course of his career, Jerry held a number of interesting and impactful jobs. Jerry’s early years were spent on the farm operated by the monks at the Benedictine Abbey. Jerry then worked for Holy Name Church digging graves with pick & shovel, and other various duties. While a teenager he also worked at the Wilmot Raceway replacing fences with his big brother John. Jerry then worked at the Wilmot Ski Hills in equipment rental, operated snow-making cannons, chairlift operator and then began running the snow groomers and dozers to fix the loading and unloading ramps.
From there, he began his career in excavation where he made a big impact over the next several decades. He started out working at J&A Excavating in Twin Lakes. From 1970 to 1971 Jerry worked on digging the sewers of Twin Lakes. He was also involved in digging the basement at the new St. John’s Church in Twin Lakes; it was there that he met buddy-for-life, Tim Bloss, who he recalled pulling up in his old Station Wagon the first day on the job.
Later Jerry helped excavate the Brighton Dale Golf Course. Next, he and Tom Gaynor tried to start a home building and renovation excavation company, but that only lasted for one year. Then Jerry went to work at McHenry Sand & Gravel with the Lakeland Construction road crew working on Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor along with their sewer system. After the road crew, Jerry went to the Ponderosa Aggregate Plant in Pleasant Prairie (now Lake Andrea), stripping topsoil with scrapers, graders, dozers, and backhoes.
In 1975, Jerry continued working for McHenry Sand & Gravel at the KD Pit in Bassett, WI, when it opened. He began work stripping rock, gravel, sand to load trucks and worked alongside his friends that he affectionately called the “Pitter Critters” and at Bassett Ready Mix. He spent a short time working in Colorado before returning to the Midwest. Jerry headed to McHenry West Pit to run scrapers, dozers, and graders. He volunteered many hours, alongside his brother Jude, to excavate the property for the baseball fields at Krisik Park in Genoa City. Eventually, Jerry returned to the KD Pit to reclaim the mined land and convert it to the beautiful Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park that it is today.
Jerry was a friend to many and a loyal Packers, Brewers, and Badgers fan. Jerry was a proud American who made sure to have his flag flying at his home and on his vehicle. He enjoyed time with family, music, history, old movies and westerns. Some of his favorite things were: a good laugh, a great Packers victory (especially over the Bears),a Brewers game, a good steak on a hot grill, and a cold beer. He also enjoyed traveling to Colorado and Florida. Jerry always enjoyed the annual NFL Draft parties with his brother Jeff, family members and close friends. This 2023 Draft was no exception and will be added to the memory book.
More than anything, Jerry loved his family, and he made sure we all knew it. We will miss so many things about him, but mostly we will miss his kindness, his hugs, his smile, and his laugh-along with his superior grilling and cooking skills. He gave us so much and taught us so many important things, and for that we are forever grateful. He didn’t want to leave us, but cancer made it impossible for him to stay.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Laura; daughters, Christina (Kevin) Welzen, Corey (Leif) Heckel, and Colleen (Duane) Gallo; step-sons, Matt Koenig and Mark (Jinhee) Koenig; grandchildren, Kyle, Kaitlyn, Kelsey, Cameryn, Brenna, Liam, Jenna, and Logan; step-grandchildren, Ashley, Joshua, and Ethan; great-grandchildren, Gage, Cooper, Tinley, Brixlyn and Tripp; siblings, Kathleen (Peter) Renn, John (Atsuko) Tindall, James (Margaret) Tindall, Jude (Patricia) Tindall, Michele (Daniel) Gauger, Justin Tindall, Jeffrey Tindall, Mary (Jerome) Schuerman, Colette Tindall, and Paula (Jeffery) Cates; brothers-in-law, Henry Kucharzyk and Brian (Cindy) Kucharzyk; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Leona Tindall; infant sister Mary, brother Joseph Tindall, and sisters-in-law Monica Wasiulewski and Susan Kucharzyk.
In keeping with Jerry’s wishes, no funeral service will be held. A Celebration of Life is being planned for 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 18th at Wheatland Park in New Munster, WI. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations can be made to Southern Wisconsin All-Airborne Chapter 82nd Airborne Division, ℅ LTC John Gibbons, PO Box 13, Woodworth WI 53194 or Tunnel To Towers Foundation at https://t2t.org/ The family will be donating a Memorial Bench at Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park (the former KD/Bassett Pit), which has been a very special place to the Tindall family for many years. Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory of Twin Lakes is honored to assist the Tindall family.
