Jeraldine "Jerry" Rector

Jeraldine “Jerry” Rector was born to Eldon and Dona Smith in Grand Rapids, MI. She and her identical twin, Jackie, enjoyed being best friends, growing up together in a lively, extended family. After graduating from Ottawa Hills High School in 1944, Jerry attended Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio, earning a BA in History in 1948. After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas Edwin Rector. They lived first in Ann Arbor while Tom attended the University of Michigan. Subsequently, they moved to Milwaukee where daughter Kristine was born. Two years later they moved to Pittsburgh, PA where daughter, Charlotte and son, Tim, were born. Jerry was a wonderful mother, dedicated to raising her children to appreciate a love of reading, an interest in sports, the arts, travel, and entertaining. Tom’s career opportunities took the family to more cities and brought new experiences and friends into their lives. In 1965, the family moved to Chicago and then in 1969, back to Milwaukee. In what Jerry fondly referred to as “a magical time” in her life, she and Tom moved to London in 1972, then Versailles, France in 1974. Jerry enjoyed the English way of life, often sharing memories of walking to the village market, seeing plays in London, and visiting the many historical sites she had studied in college. In France, Jerry frequently escorted American friends to Paris for shopping, sightseeing and museum visits. She loved Impressionist art and attended a course at the Louvre. After their time in Europe, they returned to Milwaukee. Jerry was preceded in death by her parents and sister. She is survived by and sorely missed by her loving husband, Tom, her daughter, Kris Gleason (Greg) of Wilmette, IL, daughter, Charlotte Donnermeyer (Keith) of Granite Bay, CA and son, Tim Rector (Christine) of Weston, FL, grandchildren Erin (Taylor), Amanda (Josh), Nicholas (Tiffany), Laura (Stephen), Stephanie and Andrew as well as great-grandchildren, Gus and Charlie. A Memorial Service to celebrate Jerry’s life will be held on Saturday, November 15th at 1 o’clock PM at St. Boniface Episcopal Church 3906 W. Mequon Road, Mequon, WI 53092 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Boniface Episcopal Church or the Alexian Village Employee Appreciation Fund 9301 N. 76th Street Milwaukee, WI 53223