Lenaerts, Gerald Joseph 57 of Chicago, passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2013. He is survived by his two sisters Bonnie Aten, and Constance Pacholski; two nephews Michael (Anna) Aten and Dennis (Debra Teplitz) Pacholski; two nieces Michelle (Jeremy) Luckett and Laura Pacholski; great nieces Morgan Luckett, Marissa Pacholski, and Kasia Aten; Great nephews Alexander Luckett and Gabriel Pacholski. He is preceded in death by his parents Virginia and Joseph Lenaerts, and brother in law James Aten. Jerry had a very rough and tough exterior and a huge heart when it came to his family and friends. We will make sure that his memory lives on with his great nieces and great nephews. He always had a beard rub, wet willy, nooggie, or poke for each and every one of them. He loved to create beautiful art out of wood and acrylic. Jerry will be missed by all who knew him but never forgotten. Services will be private.
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Jerry,
I am stunned at losing you so soon. You were the best cousin anyone would want. I have so many memories with you…going to concerts, dancing at clubs, going horseback riding, family gatherings, weddings, funerals and just coming over to help us and visa versa. You will be sorely missed. Love you always and forever, cuz. Love LuAnne, Phil, Jackie and Becky Bartnicki
Jerry’s acrylic work might be called primitive, but there was within it, the theme of his life. A western setting centered around the home and family. The first time I saw his fish; I was mistakenly sure they were machine produced. Close inspection revealed nearly imperceptible variations. He spoke truth, abrasively, but intended to give you a swift kick in the pants! He will be sorely missed. I am honored to have been allowed into his bastion of male chauvinism.
Jumpsuit Jerry,
It looks like all the guys at Mc Cormick miss you. Baby Huey was the one who told me of your untimely departure. Shreck brought up your page while we sat in Paul’s Pool in The North. Mike hung his head when I asked if he had heard. The Preacher said we should do a memorial service. Ali is in bad shape; he is trying to get disability. Roger is lost in his world of objector. You told me how to fix my furnace, taught me how to tip heavily at breakfast. I ordered the butterfly sausages in your honor a couple days ago at the Nugget on Irving Park. There were a bunch of servicemen there. It was the best thing in my recent years to have met you; the mirror work, the talk of making an art project with a plains Indian- cowboy- settler theme. You were right about the Cuba painting. I used that to make a mixed media collage.
Yo