Jack W. Oliver

It is with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Jack Willis Oliver, 85, of Pickett. He passed away on Monday, July 29,2024, at Bethel Home, after being a resident there for the last 3 ½ years. He was born in Oshkosh to the late Vernon and Orpha Oliver on May 16th,1939. Jack was united in marriage to Sharon Evanson in 1961, and their marriage was blessed with one son, Timothy.

Jack graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1957. After high school he was employed at Miles Kimball Company as a linotype operator and worked in the composition department of Oshkosh’s “The Paper” newspaper. It was a job he was very proud of. After “The Paper” closed, he continued his employment at Kimball’s as manager of the personalization department.

In 1967, he purchased a farm in Pickett, Wisconsin where he owned horses, English Pointer dogs, and hobby farmed. He loved to travel, and especially enjoyed spending time at his cabin in Eagle River. The cabin became a second home away from home, their little slice of Heaven. He was an avid hunter of pheasants, grouse, and whitetail deer. He would hunt deer in -15 temps, rain, or thunderstorms. He would stay out until “Dark Thirty”. No one will ever forget the crack of his .300 Weatherby rifle and his “You can’t get a deer layin in the bunk” speech. He was a true Chevrolet man.

Jack was a member along with his father of The Central Wisconsin Field Trial Association and served as a field trial judge for fifteen years. He was past president of the Pickett Horse Club, and was known as the “Heavy Horseman”. Jack was a past board member of the Pickett Community Center and a Charter member of the Pickett Lions Club. He served as a charter member of D.A.R.T., Domestic Animal Rescue Team.

Jack was a thirty-five-year member of the Utica Volunteer Fire Department and was “The Coach” of the department’s Firefighter Olympic team, who he led to a first-place victory in Omro, WI.

Jack was a fan of the Packers, Yankees, and the Brewers. However, equestrian sports were his favorite, especially horse pulling and horse racing. Jack’s first love was his wife, his second love was horses; together, Jack and Sharon had 11. Some of the best memories came from playing hide-and-go-seek on horseback with his wife, Sharon, and father, Vernon, in the cornfield. Jack and Sharon voyaged on two different 100-mile-long horseback riding trips through the mountains of Arkansas and Colorado.

Jack is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon; son, Timothy (Grace) Oliver; grandchildren, Victoria (fiancé Mason Lee) and Randall (special friend, Sophie Peerenboom); sisters-in-law, Karen Himmler and Marie Evanson. He is further survived by nephews, John and Don Himmler, and Scott Evanson; nieces, Shaune Himmler and Shelly Whitson.

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Leonard Himmler and Ronald Evanson; nephew, Steven Evanson, as well as many aunts and uncles.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9th, 2024 at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish-St. Peter’s site, 449 High Ave. with Fr. Jerome Pastors officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 4:00 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. Firefighter honors will be held at 6:45 p.m. and Mass will be held at 7:00 p.m. Per Jack’s wishes, cremation will take place following the Mass, and he will be placed with Sharon at the time of her passing, so they can remain together forever.

Thank you to the staff and caregivers of Bethel Home for becoming like a second family to Jack and his family, especially during his final days. Your kindness and compassion will never be forgotten.