John "Jack" William Taft

John “Jack” William Taft, 82 of Chetek passed away Monday, January 27, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.  Jack was born May 5, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan to Gustave and Constance Taft.  He attended Chetek High School and graduated in 1949.  He married his high school sweetheart, Gertrude Thompson on April 7, 1951.

Jack worked in the sheet metal industry since 1951.  Jack and Hilman “Swede” Swenson went into partnership and opened Sheet Metal Enterprises in Chetek in April 1970.  Jack worked for 44 years before retiring and turning the business over to his three sons and Hilman’s son, John.

Jack loved pheasant hunting in South Dakota, deer hunting and ice fishing in Wisconsin and spending his summers in Ear Falls, Ontario with friends and family fishing for walleye on Lake Wenesaga and working on their cabins.

Jack was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many.  He is survived by his loving wife, Gertrude and six children, John (Carla) Taft, Kristie (Pat) O’Dowd, Jerry (Kris) Taft, Kathy (Chris) Taft, Robert (Debbie) Taft, Karoline White, 17 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 3 brothers-in-law; William (LaVerna) Thompson, Kenneth (Shirley) Thompson and James Thompson.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one son James, grandson Eric, great-granddaughter Kelly, two brothers, Robert and Russell, two sisters, Peggy and Elizabeth and sister-in-law Barbara Thompson.

Funeral Services for Jack will be held on Friday, January 31, 2014 at Chetek Lutheran Church at 11:00 A.M.  Jack’s family will greet visitors at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.  Following the service please join the family for fellowship and lunch in the church hall.  Jack will be laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery in Chetek in the spring.