Jerry Allen Ptacek

Jerry was called home to be with Jesus in the early morning hours of Friday, September 18, at Mercy Medical Center, New Hampton, at the age of 78.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton, with Rev. Ivan Nienhaus celebrating the Mass. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Hampton.

Friends are invited to greet the family from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton. Visitation continues for one hour before the Mass at the church on Tuesday.

Jerry was born on April 22, 1948 to Frank and Thelma (Boehmer) Ptacek in Elma, Iowa.  He grew up in the Elma area on a variety of homesteads and helped with cattle and hogs on the family farm. He also worked in construction while attending high school. Jerry attended and graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Elma in 1966.  Following graduation from high school, he entered the Army Reserves and completed basic training at Ft Leonardwood, Missouri.  He served in the Army Reserves from 1966 – 1972.

He met the love of his life, Mavis Dohlman, on a blind date in the Fall of 1967.  They were married on September 27, 1969 at St. Mary Church, New Hampton.  They would have been married for 57 years just a few days shy of this passing.

In his early adult years, he worked at Champlain Truck Stop in New Hampton.  Then went on to work for Richards Implement.  He worked for Allen Pleggenkuhle on the farm for a few years while he and Mavis began grain farming and raising hogs.  He then returned to Boos Implement (now Bodensteiner Implement) until 1987.  Upon the passing of his father, he took over the grain hauling that Frank had started.  Then began PtacekTrucking, Inc and he drove until he suffered his stroke in May 2020.

Jerry and Mavis farmed land near LeRoy, MN in the beginning.  They had the opportunity to farm ground owned by Oliver and Hazel Cochran for a couple years.  Then went on to farm ground owned by Les and Ruth Miller in the mid 1980’s and added the ground owned by Louis Sostak in the late 1990s.   His son-in-law, Greg, and grandsons, Kyle and Kaeden, helped grandpa farm in his later years.  While grain farming, they also farrowed and raised feeder hogs and butchered chickens. Once the girls, graduated from high school, they sold the hogs and started beef cattle for a couple years. He had a lifelong love for farming and never considered it a job, but as a way of life to support his family.  Farming and trucking was something that brought him great joy!  They continued to grain farm until their retirement in 2023.

He was a proud father of his four daughters:  Becky, Rachel, Jeanie, and Jennifer….even when they challenged him!  He was blessed with eight grandchildren that he cherished dearly.  Grandpa loved to attend activities for all of his grandchildren: Kyle and Kaeden Havlik, Kasey and Isaac Stone, Tinley and Teagan Terwilliger, Jack and Georgia Osborn.

He cherished the memories created on vacations and adventures with Mavis, his children, grandchildren, and close friends.  This included Paradise Point Resort (Walker, MN), Brooklyn Michigan NASCAR races, CountryFest in Cadot Wisconsin, fishing trips to Five Lakes Lodge in Canada, Buddy Holly weekends in Clear Lake, trips to Las Vegas, gator and country road travels, and mini visits to the area casinos.  When not working or on an adventure, he enjoyed watching westerns and Iowa Hawkeye Basketball games (men and women).

He taught his daughters the true value of hard work and that nothing came free in life.  He was always willing to teach his sons-in-laws and grandchildren how to fix whatever was broken.  Jerry never lost his childlike excitement, especially at Christmas.  Opening gifts was a true joy for him!  He loved receiving new toys for the toy farm and train set that he created.  Jerry will be remembered for his love of family, his simple joys, and the many stories and memories he shared with those who knew and loved him.  Some of those simple joys were the snacks that he would sneak when no one was looking.  Grandchildren never denied those simple joys!  Jerry was a talker…that goodbye at the door or phone call could last more than 30 more minutes.

Jerry is survived by Mavis, his wife of 56 years; daughters, Becky (Greg) Havlik, Jeanie (Justin) Terwilliger, Jennifer (DeWayne) Osborn; son-in-law, Brian (Kristen) Stone; grandchildren:  Kyle and Kaeden Havlik, Kasey and Isaac Stone, Tinley and Teagan Terwilliger, Jack and Georgia Osborn;  sisters: Bev (Bob) Lowe, Mary (Reesa) Ptacek,  Rose (Bill) Lowe, Kristi (Randy) Schmitt;  brother-in-laws:  Denny (Carla Greenlee) Dohlman, Bob (Julie) Dohlman; sister-in-law, Carol (Dale) Throckmorton, Renae (Doug) Dohlman; many nieces and nephews; and friends that loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rachel Stone (2017); parents, Frank and Thelma Ptacek; stepmother, Lola (Munson) Ptacek; parent-in-laws, Eime and Irene Dohlman; brother-in-law, Jeff Dohlman; sister-in-law, Ruth Dohlman.