Obituary of Gerald Joseph Vasicek
Gerald Joseph Vasicek was born on March 25, 1939, in Delray, Michigan. He was the oldest of four children born to the union of Joseph Vasicek and Edith (Howell) Vasicek. Jerry attended Monroe High School in Monroe, Michigan graduating with the class of 1957. To provide for his family he worked for over forty-one years as a mechanic at Ford Motor Company. He was a proud member of the United Autoworkers Union Local 600. In addition, he also served as the Mechanics Committee Representative and eventually President. For many years, the Vasicek family held a yearly Labor Day picnic. Jerry made wonderful friends such as Marty Wysocki, Larry Piotter, and Jim Whitehead.
On October 22, 1966, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Jerry married the love of his life, the former Patricia Ann Prucka. They were married for 54 years. Together the couple was blessed with the birth of a beautiful baby girl: Martha.
Jerry was a competitive trap shooter, traveling throughout the United States competing in many tournaments in California, Las Vegas, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Arizona. When he wasn’t competing, he enjoyed spending time at the East Rockwood Sportsman Club and the Carleton Sportsman Club where he and his buddies Lawrence Litwin, Lloyd Manor, Richard Burkett, and Carl Adkins enjoyed a day of shooting trap. Jerry won hundreds of awards and events in his lifetime.
As a young man, Jerry raced everything and anything in Detroit. No matter what he was driving, he sent it down the track. He drag raced with two of his best friends, Gary Mero and Albert Goik. Jerry loved spending time with his family swimming and taking boat trips to Boblo Island, Put in Bay, Cedar Point, and Sinbads. Watching the Fireworks over the Detroit River became a yearly Fourth of July tradition.
Jerry and Patricia were snowbirds, heading south each winter to enjoy the sunny beaches in Holiday, Florida. The couple also liked traveling with their grandsons. They explored all over Michigan, visiting Traverse City, Mackinac Island, the Upper Peninsula and spent time on all five Great Lakes. When they were young and could tolerate the cold, they made yearly trips to Houghton Lake and enjoyed Tip-Up Town festivities.
Gerald Joseph “Jerry” Vasicek, age 85 of Newport, Michigan passed away on Wednesday; November 6, 2024, at Corewell Health Trenton Hospital in Trenton, Michigan. His passing was preceded by his parents: Joseph and Edith Vasicek and his wife: Patricia Ann Vasicek after fifty-four years of marriage; an infant brother, Timothy Vasicek; and dear friends: Richard Burkett, Carl Adkins, Gary Mero, and Albert Goik. Jerry was reunited with his favorite dog in the world, Chance.
To cherish his memory, he leaves a loving daughter: Martha (Michael) Bills of Newport; two sisters: Dolores Boyd of Flat Rock and Denise (Terrance “Terry”) Reeder of Illinois; two grandsons: Michael Bills II and Matthew Bills and his loving furry companion: Brock, a chocolate Labrador Retriever.
A Celebration of Jerry’s Life is being planned by the family in Spring of 2025. His care has been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe, 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185. Cremation has taken place through Covenant Cremation, a division of Merkle Enterprises, Inc.
For those desiring, memorials in Jerry’s memory are suggested to the East Rockwood Sportsman Club or to the Monroe County Animal Shelter. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.
