Jerry St. Catherine (a.k.a. Giordano Santacatterina)

HAYWARD, Wis. - Jerry St. Catherine, 81, of Hayward, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 21, 2018, with his wife by his side.

Jerry St. Catherine was born Feb. 23, 1937, in Ironwood, Mich., the son of Angelo and Anna (DeRosso) St. Catherine. He grew up in Hurley, where he was a gifted athlete excelling in football, baseball and basketball. While in high school he began taking flying lessons. Flying became a lifelong passion for him.

Jerry joined the U.S. Army where he was a member of the 82nd Airborne. He spent three years in the Army and then was accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He played football for Superior and was named to Little All-American and NAIA All-District teams twice. In 1982, Jerry was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame.

Jerry graduated from college in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in biology and then went out to Colorado for flight training. After a short time of working as a pilot at the Hayward Airport, he began a 20-year career in social services for Sawyer County - first as a social worker and later as the director of the Comprehensive Planning Board. For the last 10 years of his career Jerry returned to his passion of flying and ran North Lakes Aviation, retiring in 1997.

Jerry was an excellent golfer, winning the Hayward Golf Club Championship three times. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and just being out on the Chippewa Flowage. He was a humble man of faith who loved spending time with his family.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Esther; three children, Stuart (Susan) St. Catherine of Hayward, Anna (Joe) Worachek of Denver, Colo., and James (Haley) St. Catherine of Hayward; eight grandchildren; one sister, Norma Domin of Hurley; one brother, George (Terri) St. Catherine of Three Lakes; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Jerry at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hayward with Father Gerard Willger officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the State of Wisconsin Military Funeral Honors Program. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Hayward followed by a luncheon at the church.

Online condolences may be left at bratley-nelsonchapels.com.