April 20, 2018 – West Bend, WI – John George (Jack) German left Serenity Villa and made the trip to heaven be with his wife La Rae of 63 years on April 20, 2018. Jack had suffered a stroke in February as a result of a broken heart.
He was born to George Anton German V and Katherine Ann Ruddy on June 4. 1930 in Saint Killian, Wisconsin. The Family moved to West Bend and Jack attended Holy Angeles School and West Bend High School. Jack joined the Naval Reserve then enlisted in the U.S. Army at seventeen and served with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Benning Georgia. After his active duty he served an additional six years in the Army Reserve and rose to the rank of Master Sargent.
Jack worked first as a mechanic and then in automobile sales in West Bend for several dealerships working last at Tennis Buick. Cooking was his passion and he spent most of his free time cooking for his friends. In 1972 his long-time dream of his own restaurant came to be when he and La Rae purchased the Little Red Inn in Saint Lawrence. They operated this iconic landmark until they retired.
Jacks life was one of public service and commitment. He served as a part time Deputy Sheriff with the Washington County Sheriffs Department and was elected constable and board supervisor for the Town of Addison. In 1978 he was elected to the Washington County Board of Supervisors, serving for a time as the Vice-Chairman and remained on the board until 2004.
Jack was an Honorary (Life) member of the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department, American Legion Allenton Fohl-Martin Post 483 and Saint Francis Cabrini Church. Past Member of Slinger-Allenton Rotary, Allenton Sportsman Club, Resurrection Parish, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Washington County Tavern League and Allenton Area Advancement Association. He was on of the founders of the Allenton Area Advancement Association’s Buffalo Feed.
On June 28, 1952 Jack Married (Margarete) La Rae Umbs at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Allenton. They spent most of their married lives in Allenton and in retirement years also enjoyed spending time in Eagle River and Arizona. La Rae was called home to our Lord Savior Jesus Christ on January 9, 2016.
Survivors include his sons Jay (Joanie) of Allenton, Tim (Sue) of Saint Lawrence, Paul (Carla) of Oconomowoc, and daughter Julie (Tim) Keith of West Bend, 10 grand children: Stacy (fiancée Patrick Johnson), Ali (Ewan) O’Donnell, John, Nicholas, Luke, Hannah (Cody) Thelen, Leah/Liam, Brad (Kelly), Keith, Kaela (Luke) Mutter and Karlie Keith; five great-grandchildren, Jackson Lane, Lewis O’Donnell, Hadley Keith, Macy and Regan Mutter; two sisters, Ella Schleif of West Bend and Judy (Bob) Pomahawk of Rockton, Illinois; and one sister-in-Law, Barbara (Jim) Lang of Atlanta; one brother-in-Law, Randy Umbs of Thompson Falls, Montana; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife La Rae; an infant daughter Mary Jo; Sister Betty Reynolds; Brothers-in-law Thomas Reynolds and Phil Schleif sisters-in-law Nancy (Richard) Craven and Susan Prevort.
A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 24, at Resurrection Catholic Church with the Rev. Richard Stoffel presiding. Burial will be at a later date in Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends from 1 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
The family has requested memorials to Resurrection Catholic Parish or St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Parish.