FREDERICKSBURG — Jerry Allen Ptacek, 78, of Fredericksburg, died Friday, September 18, 2026, at MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, at Holy Family Parish in New Hampton, with the Rev. Ivan Nienhaus celebrating the Mass. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Hampton.
Friends may greet the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, September 21, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton. Visitation will continue for one hour before the Mass at the church Tuesday.
Jerry was born April 22, 1948, in Elma to Frank and Thelma Boehmer Ptacek. He grew up on several homesteads in the Elma area, helping care for cattle and hogs on the family farm. He also worked in construction while attending high school.
Jerry graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Elma in 1966. Following graduation, he entered the Army Reserve and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He served in the Army Reserve from 1966 until 1972.
Jerry met the love of his life, Mavis Dohlman, on a blind date in the fall of 1967. The couple married September 27, 1969, at St. Mary Church in New Hampton. They shared nearly 57 years of marriage and would have celebrated their anniversary just nine days after Jerry’s death.
During his early adult years, Jerry worked at Champlain Truck Stop in New Hampton and later at Richards Implement. He also worked on Allen Pleggenkuhle’s farm while he and Mavis began grain farming and raising hogs.
Jerry returned to the implement business and worked at Boos Implement, now Bodensteiner Implement, until 1987. After his father’s death, Jerry took over the grain-hauling operation Frank had started and established Ptacek Trucking Inc. He continued driving until suffering a stroke in May 2020.
Jerry and Mavis initially farmed land near LeRoy, Minnesota. They later had opportunities to farm ground owned by Oliver and Hazel Cochran, Les and Ruth Miller, and Louis Sostak. In his later years, Jerry received help on the farm from his son-in-law Greg and grandsons Kyle and Kaeden.
Along with growing grain, Jerry and Mavis farrowed and raised feeder hogs and butchered chickens. After their daughters graduated from high school, the couple sold the hogs and raised beef cattle for several years.
Farming was never merely a job to Jerry. It was a way of life, a means of supporting his family and something that brought him tremendous satisfaction. Farming and trucking remained sources of joy throughout his life. Jerry and Mavis continued grain farming until retiring in 2023.
Jerry was the proud father of four daughters — Becky, Rachel, Jeanie and Jennifer — and cherished his eight grandchildren. He faithfully attended activities involving Kyle and Kaeden Havlik, Kasey and Isaac Stone, Tinley and Teagan Terwilliger, and Jack and Georgia Osborn.
He treasured the memories created during vacations and adventures with Mavis, their children, grandchildren and close friends. Those travels included stays at Paradise Point Resort in Walker, Minnesota; NASCAR races in Brooklyn, Michigan; Country Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin; fishing trips to Five Lakes Lodge in Canada; Buddy Holly weekends in Clear Lake; trips to Las Vegas; country-road excursions; and visits to area casinos.
When he was not working or traveling, Jerry enjoyed watching westerns and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Jerry taught his daughters the value of hard work and reminded them that nothing in life came free. He was always ready to teach his sons-in-law and grandchildren how to repair something that was broken.
He never lost his childlike excitement, especially at Christmas. Jerry loved opening presents and receiving new toys for the toy farm and train set he created. He also enjoyed sneaking snacks when no one was looking, although his grandchildren rarely denied him those simple pleasures.
Jerry was a talker, and his family knew that a goodbye at the door or the end of a telephone call could easily last another 30 minutes. He will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his love of farming, his enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures and the many stories and memories he shared.
Jerry is survived by Mavis, his wife of 56 years; three daughters, Becky and Greg Havlik, Jeanie and Justin Terwilliger, and Jennifer and DeWayne Osborn; son-in-law Brian and Kristen Stone; eight grandchildren, Kyle and Kaeden Havlik, Kasey and Isaac Stone, Tinley and Teagan Terwilliger, and Jack and Georgia Osborn; four sisters, Bev and Bob Lowe, Mary and Reesa Ptacek, Rose and Bill Lowe, and Kristi and Randy Schmitt; brothers-in-law Denny Dohlman and Carla Greenlee, and Bob and Julie Dohlman; sisters-in-law Carol and Dale Throckmorton, and Renae and Doug Dohlman; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rachel Stone, in 2017; his parents, Frank and Thelma Ptacek; his stepmother, Lola Munson Ptacek; his parents-in-law, Eime and Irene Dohlman; brother-in-law Jeff Dohlman; and sister-in-law Ruth Dohlman.
To read Jerry’s complete obituary or leave an online condolence, visit Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory.
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