Jack Eugene Wardell, age 89, of Madison, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. He was born on Sept. 27, 1933, in Avoca, the son of Otis and Mabel (Kraus) Wardell.

Jack graduated from the Avoca High School in 1951 and joined the United States Navy on August 22, 1952. He proudly served on the destroyer, “USS Gyatt DD-712/DDG-1”. Jack married Mary Catherine Ganshert on June 24, 1961, in Gratiot, Wis. He worked for Oscar Mayer for 34 years, retiring in 1985. Jack then went on to work at the General Motors plant in Janesville for the next 10 years, retiring as a master electrician.

He really enjoyed getting together with his GM breakfast club, Bill Knight, Don Cullen, Roger Pierce and Oscar Mayer buddy, Don Vetter. Jack also loved getting together with the Tuesday night crew at Tower Inn. Thank you, Brian, Barb and Damon. Dad was the king of one liners and the best story and joke teller ever! He only told the same joke twice if you asked him.

He loved deer hunting with his daughters and prairie dog hunting with Brother Clyde, fishing, and especially the trips to Canada with Bill Bahr, Jack Meister, Brother Hank and Mike Simpson.

Jack is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Shaun and Angela; son, Mike (Gina) Wardell; and grandchildren, Cheyenne Wardell and Wyatt Wardell. He was preceded in death by son, Thomas Joseph Wardell; father, Otis Wardell; mother, Mabel Ruth Wardell; and seven brothers and sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 701 Wisconsin St. Avoca, WI, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023, with Monsignor Dan Ganshert (brother-in-law) presiding. Burial with Military Rites will follow. A Celebration of Life will be held at Avoca School, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

A very special heartwarming thanks to Nicole and Peg from Agrace HospiceCare, and to Doreen and Tina. We couldn’t have done it without you. Everyone knows Jack loved his bonus daughters, Doreen, Toni, Rose, Cheryl and Sheri.

A special thank you also goes to Mike Simpson, Dan Conner, Brother Pete, Tom Willin (cowboy), and Dennis Sieg, for everything you guys have done for our dad. He loved you very much. And also, to Jeremy Wikinson for always keeping him plowed out, and to our awesome family of choice, “The Bollingers”.

Memorial contributions can be made in Jacks name to American Kidney Foundation, American Diabetes Foundation, Agrace HospiceCare and St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

“Salty” (Jack Wardell) and “Onions” (Ernie Bollinger), together again!

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Jack Eugene Wardell

September 27, 1933 - April 05, 2023

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