Gerry Piontek 

The reason Gerry had always given for not joining up with the Knights of Columbus was the fact that he bowled on Monday nights and would therefore miss the meetings of the Council.  That did not deter the persistence of Richard Rebman, and after hounding Gerry for years, Richard finally got him to sign on the dotted line.  Now, after just about a year in the Knights, Gerry has advanced through the Third Degree and serves the Council as an Officer (Inside Guard).  As he relates the story of becoming an Officer, he says “I was at a meeting and there weren’t too many people there.  Everyone just turned and looked at me.” 

 

A native of Green Bay, Gerry spent twenty six years at St. Mary of the Angels Parish.  He served Mass for the first time while in the third grade and then through the age of twenty two.  That interest in ministry has spilled over into his current involvement at St. Bernard as a Eucharistic minister for over twenty years.  He and his wife Janet have been married for thirty five years and have three boys, all living in the area, and four grandchildren. 

 

For the past forty two years Gerry has worked at Younkers (formerly Pranges) and looks forward to retirement in about ten months.  He currently works in shipping and finds that the years are catching up with him and the work seems more strenuous.  While he has no specific plans for retirement, he indicated that he may work part time.  He also is thinking about travel, though he’ll have to deal with his dislike of flying.

 

In addition to the Knights of Columbus, Gerry has been in the Holy Name Society for over twenty years, but his greatest interest lies in just about anything connected with sports.  An avid Packer fan, Gerry played semi-professional football and was recently inducted into the Manitowoc Semi-Pro Hall of Fame.  He was also recruited by one professional team, the Chargers, but didn’t play: “Back then, there was just too much expense.”  He’s also been involved in softball, baseball, basketball, touch football and has been a bowler for over thirty years.  Naturally, his great interest in sports led him to the Athletic Club and he served as Treasurer of the Club for ten years.  We’re delighted that someone with so many involvements has decided to add the Knights of Columbus to his life, and we look forward to all that he and his family bring to our Council.

 

November 1998