Jerre Dale Cummings, age 86 of Shawano, passed away Saturday afternoon, August 26, 2023, with family by his side. Jerre was born December 18, 1936, in Wisconsin Rapids, a son of the late Harry and Harriet (Turner) Cummings. As a young boy, Jerre had a paper route. He used his money to purchase a new Schwinn bicycle and was quite proud of it. He also worked at the Wisconsin Rapids Dairy Queen and could pour the perfect cone.  He graduated from Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids, in 1955. Following High School, he attended Stevens Point College 1955-1956 and the Humboldt Institute in Minneapolis from 1956-1957 receiving a degree in transportation in 1957. Jerre also served in the National Guard from 1954 to 1960. He married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Ramsdell, on August 25, 1956, in a beautiful candlelit ceremony at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. After marriage he began his career with Gross Common Carrier in Wisconsin Rapids and Milwaukee. He was later employed as Transportation Manager at Phenix Manufacturing in Milwaukee and Shawano and A Strum & Sons in Manawa. Jerre served in several positions in the Lutheran Church (Shawano, Manawa, Clintonville) including the Board of Christian Education, the Board of Elders, and the accreditation of two Lutheran schools. Professionally, Jerre was an active member of Shawano Rotary, served as President of the Jaycees, and supported the Shawano United Way. He was also President of the Fox River Area Transportation Society. Jerre loved the outdoors: hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, and camping. As an avid hunter and fisherman, he brought home wild game for the family to enjoy. A Christmas Eve tradition was eating Northern Pike freshly caught through the ice on the Wolf River in front of our Shawano home. He also took fishing and hunting trips to Canada and Wyoming. One of his favorite things was playing guitar and singing around the campfire for family including "How Great Thou Art" and "This Land is Your Land". And he loved "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes, which he heard at the top of Cape San Blas lighthouse in Florida. Jerre was a skilled craftsman and built two garages and an addition to our home. The addition enabled the family to enjoy those cold winter nights on the river in front of the Franklin stove. After his retirement, Jerre pursued his interest in photography, capturing photos of many weddings, wildlife, and outdoor scenes. He enjoyed expanding his collection of old cameras and photography equipment.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 67 years, Virginia (Ginny); their wonderful children Deborah (Jerry Kurata) of Pleasanton, California, Diane (David Jewell) of Germantown, Daniel (Tammy) of Shawano, David (Ann) of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, and Dean (Cassie) of Shawano; one brother, James Cummings of Phillips; and an "adopted" special Norwegian family: Merete Arvik (Johan Nicholiason) and her children Elin (Rune) Solberg and Erlend (Kristina) Streitlien and their children Olav and Aron. Jerre found great joy in his eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Jessica Kurata, Krysta Kurata; Tyler (Steff) Jewell and their children Ryan and Lincoln, Steven (Lauren) Jewell; Mindy Cummings, Holly Cummings; Lindsey (Stephen) Thackston and their children Penelope, Abigail, and Jude, Chelsey (Clayton) Witmer, Kayley (Miss K) Cummings; Sadie Cummings, and Carson Cummings.

He was preceded in death by his youngest brother Richard Cummings of Wisconsin Rapids and his mother and father.

A celebration of life will be held at noon on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano with Rev. Andrew Zobel officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10:00am until the time of the service. Please share online condolences at www.swedbergfuneralhome.com. Swedberg Funeral and Cremation Services of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers and plants, the family requests memorials to St. James Lutheran Church and School of Shawano or to the Alzheimer's Association in Jerre's name.

"Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.