Jerome D Hardt
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Jerome D. Hardt passed away on July 8, 2022 at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a proud Veteran of the United States Army and the most fun-loving gregarious Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, and Friend.
Jerry is survived by his life companion Debbie Didur, his four children, Robyn (Paul) Schultz, Tracy Lacey, Patsy (Tony Gilbert) Hardt, David (Megan) Hardt; and his 9 grandchildren, Alexander and Daniel Schultz; Christopher, Bonnie, and Owen Lacey; Jack Hardt; Hailey, Avery and Drew Hardt and his sister, Doris Stockl Reynolds.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas and Helen (Strobel) Hardt, his beloved daughter Christine Hardt, his twin grandsons, and his siblings Marie Fabrizius, Harold Hardt, Kay Kukura, and Edward Hardt.
Jerry was born on July 29,1940 in DeKalb, Illinois and grew up in the town of Virgil. He was loved and adored by his parents and older siblings alike. He graduated from Marmion Military Academy where he was proudly inducted into the Marmion Football Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, he received a football scholarship to the University of Dayton, Ohio.
At the University of Dayton, he graduated with distinguished military honors as an ROTC 2nd Lieutenant. After graduation, he married Bonnie (Metzdorf) Hardt and enlisted in active duty in the Army. He attended Airborne and Ranger School before he was deployed to Munich, Germany where he held the position of Commander - Mannheim Company, Co-Commander - Nuclear Weapon, was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and then promoted to Captain.
In 1966, with a young family at home, he was deployed to Vietnam where he was the Advisor to the Vietnamese Battalion, Commander of the American Compound, and was Awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, and Vietnamese Silver Star.
On his return to the United States, he taught in the Military Science Department at the University of Wisconsin where he obtained a Master's Degree in Science. While serving in the 84th Division of the Reserves, he was the Assistant Inspector General Battalion Commander. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and ultimately promoted to the high honor of Colonel.
Jerry raised his family in Fox Point Wisconsin where he was extremely active in his community. He was Fox Point Village Trustee from 1981-1990 and became The Fox Point Village President in 1990. He was a sports enthusiast, serving as President of the Glendale Little League and enjoyed coaching and attending his children's and grandchildren's sporting events.
After a successful career of 25 years in Computer Marketing Jerry return to his passion of teaching. He taught Math and Science in the Milwaukee Public School System and ended his career as the Assistant Principle of Bay View High School and then Riverside University High School.
One of Jerry's greatest passions was playing cards. He learned the game at the age of two by playing his Dad's "hand" during weekly poker night. He orchestrated the most entertaining and lively card games around the kitchen table on the family farm, religiously played at monthly poker night with his fellow soldiers and was the honorary dealer at his family's annual summer Card Camp. You could always count on Jerry to have a deck of cards, poker chips, Texas Hold'Em table and a gallon of ice cream ready to go.
There is no one who had a bigger zest for life than Jerry. To know him is to know a man of service to his country, love for his family and friends, a good game of cards and camaraderie like no other.
Colonel Jerome D. Hardt will be buried at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Military Cemetery with full Military Honors.
Services will be held on Thursday July 28, 2022 , at Miller-Reesman Funeral Home in Union Grove Wisconsin.
Visitation: 12:00 pm
Services: 2:00 pm
Burial: 3:00 pm
Memorial donations can be made in Jerome's name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee.
www.Miller-Reesman.com