Marge & Jerry Pok

The family has planned a memorial service for Jerry and Marge Pok on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church (323 S 5th Ave, West Bend, WI - 53095). The visitation will be from 12:00 p.m., until 1:00 p.m., with a memorial service, cake, and refreshments following the visitation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MARGE L. POK OBITUARY

Margaret “Marge” Louise (nee Smith) Pok, age 88, died Friday, February 2, 2024, at The Gables of Germantown.

She was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the daughter of Burton and Erma (nee Newcomb) Smith. Marge graduated from La Crosse Logan High School, and then earned her BS from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. Her first job as a registered pharmacist was at Rennebohm Drugs in Madison, Wisconsin. After moving to Big Cedar Lake, she worked at the West Bend Pharmacy and Central Drugs/Engeldahl Drugs. She spent time on the road in southeastern Wisconsin as an RPh on the go, then finished her career with ten years at the Cedar Lake Pharmacy.

She met her husband Jerry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1956 and they married in 1957 in La Crosse. They have three children: Dean (Carol), Sue (Dan Stein), and Kevin (Carrie). They have three grandchildren: Grace, Jim, and Clair.

Marge and Jerry shared boating and racing on Big Cedar Lake, the ILYA regattas, and on Lake Michigan. She loved gardening, especially daylilies, dahlias, and hostas, and a few vegetables. She moved wildflowers throughout their woods. “I garden because it is who I want to be, best of all your garden is never finished. You must tend to it every day.” Other interests included lighthouses - “How many can you visit?!” - and puzzles. She knit and donated over 400 pairs of mittens to the Ronald McDonald kids in Milwaukee.

She was a lifetime, 50-year member of AAUW and a member of the Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, Cedar Lake Yacht Club, Manitowoc Maritime Yacht Club, Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation, and the Dandy Duchess Red Hats.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren as well as her Smith family: Jackie, David (Jane), Shirley, Linda, and their children. She has a Pok nephew, Bill Saxton. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jerry on January 23, 2024; two brothers, Bob and Dan; three sisters, Pat, Grace, and Mary; as well as her sister-in-law, Nancy (nee Pok) Saxton, her husband John, and son Jerry.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation (PO Box 347, West Bend, WI, 53095) or the Washington County Humane Society.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JERRY J. POK OBITUARY

Jerry Pok, age 91, of Big Cedar Lake, died in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at The Gables of Germantown.

He was born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the son of Jerry F. and Lydia (nee Klatt) Pok. After graduating from Washington High School, Jerry then spent four years in the US Navy on the USS Orion Submarine tender based in Norfolk, Virginia. After his years of service, Jerry attended UW-Madison and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Jerry was employed by West Bend Outboard Company/Chrysler in Hartford as a Senior Project Engineer right out of college. Then worked at Briggs and Stratton as chief engineer for many years. Ended his career with Tecumseh as the Director of Engineering.

He met Marge (nee Smith) while studying at UW-Madison and the two married in 1957 in LaCrosse. Jerry has three children, Dean (Carol), Sue (Dan) Stein, and Kevin (Carrie). He also was blessed with three grandchildren, Grace, Jim, and Clair Pok. Jerry loved messing around with boats, saying: “There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” (quote from Kenneth Graame, Wind in the Willows)

He was an avid sailor, an homage to his time in the Navy, and enjoyed competing in sailing as well. His first competition as a skipper was in an M-16 sailboat on Big Cedar Lake and ILYA regattas. He then moved to a larger sailboat, sailing out of Manitowoc to cruise around the Great Lakes. His last upgrade was to a powerboat, lovingly named ‘Pokabout’, to cruise the open waters. Winter meant ice boating on Big Cedar Lake, sailing Hustler on those precious days with “good ice”. He also enjoyed skiing, both downhill and cross country, which helped him get through the winter months before he could get out on the lake again. Jerry was a member of Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church and Cedar Lake Yacht Club, serving 10 years on its Board of Directors and racing in C-, M-16, and E- fleets. He was also a member of the Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation, and Washington County Humane Society. He was a charter member and past commodore of the Manitowoc Maritime Yacht Club.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Marge; their children; grandchildren; and members of the Smith family, including Jackie, Dave (Jane), Linda, and Shirley, and their children. He has a Saxton nephew, Bill, who also survives him. He is predeceased by Bob, Dan, Pat, Grace, and Mary Smith, and his sister Nancy (nee Pok) Saxton, as well as her husband John, and her son Jerry.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation (PO Box 347, West Bend), or the Washington County Humane Society.

Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with the Pok family's arrangements. Additional information and Tribute Wall are available at myrhum-patten.com.