Jerome H. 'Jerry' Estock

MADISON-Jerome H. “Jerry” Estock passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at home with his family by his side. He was born on July 28, 1937, in Zanesville, Ohio, the eldest child of Andrew C. “ACE” and Ruth L. (Harper) Estock. Jerry graduated with honors from Muskingum College (now University), in New Concord, Ohio and completed a year of post-graduate work at University of Illinois, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, Champaign, Ill. His entire adult work career was the wage-hour division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Jerry started as an investigator, working in Springfield, Olney, and East St. Louis, Ill. Beginning in 1967, and for 30 years thereafter, he was director of the Madison district office. All activities were related to insuring that workers received the protection of Federal labor laws, such laws required a minimum wage, overtime compensation, child labor protections, family and medical leave. Jerry received the Department’s Distinguished Career Service Award. He was also active in the Federal Manager’s Association. Over the years he was active in the Kiwanis and Lions service clubs. Jerry’s hobbies included world –wide traveling, biking (he biked on a regular basis until the age of 70), and “coin-shooting” (metal detecting). Bashford United Methodist Church was his choice for spiritual guidance; he was an usher and active on a number of committees, as well as working with the “handymen” for many years. Jerry married the former, Ronna K. Ostendorf on Nov. 9, 1963, in Alton, Ill. He is survived by his wife, Ronna; sons, Eric (Kathy) of Madison, Timothy (Bernadette) of Wheatridge, Colo., and Tom (Tracy) Estock of Menomonee Falls; grandsons, Trevor, Elijah, Kyle, Kane, and Lukas; granddaughters, Tessa and Hannah; sister, Martha Ritchason of Boca Raton, Fla.; brother, James (Joyce) of Gahana, Ohio; brother-in-law, David (Roz) Ostendorf of Ellsworth; and nieces and nephews . He was preceded in death by his parents; and his in-laws, Virgil and Vernice Ostendorf. A Memorial service will be held at BASHFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 329 North Street, Madison, WI 53704, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday. The family wishes to thank the Agrace HospiceCare team that was able to help with his care at home. A special thanks to Nicole, Ann and Jessica for their kindness and compassion during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bashford United Methodist Church Food Pantry or Agrace HospiceCare. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber, and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk. Explore every corner of my brain and aid finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, some day, a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window. Burn what is left of me, and scatter the ashes to the wind to help the flowers grow. If you must bury something, let it be my faults and weaknesses. If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs it. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever. – Author Unknown May all your “finds” be rings and real silver coins! Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday. A Memorial service will be held at BASHFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 329 North Street, Madison, WI 53704, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday.