Anthony John

"Jack" Hytrek

Wisconsin — Anthony John "Jack" Hytrek, 88, of Wisconsin, formerly of Stuart, died Saturday, May 24, 2025, after a long battle with dementia.

Visitation was held Monday, June 2, 2025 at Valley Funeral Home in Appleton, WI.

Funeral services were held Monday, June 2, 2025 at the funeral home in Appleton, WI.

Burial was in the Neshkoro Village Cemetery in Neshkoro, WI.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Jack's name.

To view the full obituary, please visit www.valleyfh.com.

Jack was born Dec. 7, 1936 the youngest of 10 kids. His parents, John and Theresa Hytrek, were farmers in Stuart, on the land that their family homesteaded. 

Growing up in Stuart surrounded by family was a great life of hard work and hard play. His parents made sure there were lots of both and lots of love, which Jack continued with his own family. The Hytreks were known to play a mean game of pitch, to sing like the angels and to always help others.

When he was younger, Jack worked on the farm and first went to school in the country. He rode his horse Midgey to and from school most days. He just pointed her in the direction of the school and she took off. While in high school in Stuart, he was involved in all sports but also everything that had anything to do with music. He had a truck and was known to get called out of school to help someone move something. The whole football team would pile into the back of his truck for every practice and game.

Jack was the first of the Hytrek boys to go to junior college. After just one semester, he answered the call to serve his country. During his service, the FBI came to Stuart to ask his family and friends questions about his character, because he was being asked to listen to enemy communications and needed a high security clearance. Jack passed with flying colors.

After his stint in the U.S. Army, he went back to school to finish his degree. In the fall of 1962 at Chadron State College, he decided to go to the freshman picnic to find a woman…and find one he did. He met Gayle Abel, the love of his life, and they were married four months later. They had four kids, eight grandkids and were happily married for 62 years.

Being a father and grandfather was something Jack loved. He rarely yelled, made them laugh and taught them right from wrong. He had a lot of patience and supported them in all their dreams.

Jack is survived by his wife Gayle; his four children Lisa (Charles) DeLozier, Kristi (Ken) Vicchiollo, Brad Hytrek and Jodi (Danny) Becker; six of his grandkids; and many nieces and nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his nine brothers and sisters and his two grandchildren Melissa Diane Cecil and Lyndsey Nicole Becker.