Erwin D Jankowski, born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on November 29, 1938, died from complications of diabetes and kidney disease on October 17, 2019. Erv was well respected and loved by family, friends, neighbors and coworkers for his honesty, empathy, goodness, and great cooking skills. He was a hard worker, a prankster, could and would do anything, and always thought outside of the box.
He will be sorely missed by Diane, his wife of 43 years, who he dragged, sometimes kicking and screaming, into adventure after adventure, always making life fun and eventful.
Erv loved his job with the State of Wisconsin Job Service, and was proud of the work they did. He was a facilitator for re-designing Job Service and DVR delivery systems, and was particularly proud of his involvement with setting up Job Centers across the state of Wisconsin. He worked for the Job Service for 34 years, first as office manager in Portage County, then as Supervisor of Employer Relations and Placement activities in Madison. He was also a Management Specialist, and assistant to the Job Service director.
He had a commitment to public service in other areas as well, serving as President of the school board in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Campaign Chairman of the Portage County United Way, as well as being active in other civic organizations including Knights of Columbus, Sheltered Workshop, and the Quarterback Club at UW-Steven’s Point. He was President of the hockey association in Stevens Point, sporting a dead tooth from his days as a goalie in his youth, and later moved on to coach his sons in youth hockey, as well as beginning the first college hockey team at the University. He avidly followed the Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers throughout his life.
Erv and Diane moved from Stevens Point to the Madison area where they lived until their retirement in 1998. At that time, he and Diane sold their home and moved into a motor home, indulging their love of travel by crisscrossing the US and Canada for 5 1/2 years. They ultimately settled in Etowah, in western North Carolina, dividing their time between there and Florida where they wintered in North Port. He lived life “Erv style” - to the fullest.
Erv will be missed by his four children; Jeffrey Jankowski of Green Bay, WI, Gregory (Sandy) Jankowski of Cambridge, WI, Alisa (Tim) Allen of Madison, WI and Jennifer (Ken) Thompson of Owasso, OK. ; his brothers, Tom (Sue) Hanson and Norman (Betty Haas) Hanson and sister Geraldine (Neil) Gillis; granddaughters Alexis (Ryan) Waters, Kaitlyn Jankowski, Leah Thompson and Amanda Thompson; sister-in-law, Jean Jankowski; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Erv was also very close to Diane’s family, including brother’s-in-law and sister’s-in-law: Ron Horbinski and Cyndi Covert, Karen and Dave Vogel, Lynn and Dave Cushwa, and Christine and Dave Farley, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Theresa and Clarence Hanson of Stevens Point and his brother, Richard Jankowski.
There will be a Celebration of Life held at a later date.
They don’t make them like they used to.
Donations may be made to:
Blue Ridge Literacy Council
PO Box 1728
Hendersonville, NC 28793
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