Jerry Qualheim remembered as helpful, funny

Longtime hardware store owner dies
By: 
David Wilhelms
Correspondent

SHAWANO — “Kind” is the word heard over and over again as Jerry Qualheim was remembered this week.

Qualheim, long a fixture in Shawano’s retail community as owner of the True Value store, died Oct. 24 following a two-month illness at age 86.

Phil Nelson, a fellow American Legion Post 117 member, pointed out Jerry belonged to the Legion for over 50 years. “More importantly, he was a staunch supporter of veterans’ activities,” Phil Nelson said.

“As just one example, he donated all of the American flags for the veterans in Woodlawn Cemetery,” Phil Nelson continued, adding there are over 1,000 veterans’ graves.

Cindy Nelson, Phil’s wife, added that she knew Jerry through singing with his wife, June, in the Sweet Adelines.

“He was always ready to help,” she said.

“At his funeral today (Oct. 31), they tried to describe his characteristics. He was kind, generous, thoughtful, caring. Some of the best superlatives you could imagine,” Phil Nelson said.

Qualheim and his wife bought the Coast to Coast Hardware Store on Main Street in 1979. Following a couple of location moves and a franchise switch, they moved into their new location on Green Bay Street in 1995. Their son, Willis Qualheim, now manages the business.

John Stapleton is among many who remember not just Jerry Qualheim’s helpfulness but also his sense of humor.

Stapleton recalled that, years ago, he had a plumbing problem at his home. Adding to the urgency of solving the problem was having three children in diapers.

He went the store when it was still on Main Street and asked Qualheim for some help. With his trademark glasses pushed down his nose, Qualheim pulled out what he thought were the right parts, at which time Stapleton asked, “Is this a big job?”

Apparently having sized up Stapleton’s plumbing capabilities, Qualheim replied, “It could be.”

Phil Nelson agreed that, “If he (Jerry) knew what project you were doing, he’d know all of the materials you’d need and the instructions you needed.”

Phil and Cindy Nelson agreed his customer service standard was very high.

Stapleton’s wife, Georgia, said: “Jerry was one of the most non-judgmental people I’ve ever met. Everyone was the same to him. He helped everyone and anyone he could, and he did it with a remarkable smile and sincerity.”

“His family meant the world to him; so did the community needs. He was a very kind man and helped make the way for us ‘city’ young people, John and I, moving to a small community with our little family and hardly any money. We knew we could depend on him to help us with our little house and any repairs. He was fair. He never let us down. His kindness will never be forgotten.”

Speaking from the perspective of being the former Citizens State Bank president, Phil Nelson said Jerry “was very good for the Shawano business community.”

Qualheim was born Dec. 1, 1932, in Stanley, a son of the late Albert and Ruth (Edwardson) Qualheim. He attended school in Jump River and later went to Hannibal High School, graduating in 1950. Qualheim served in the U.S. Army from 1951 until 1954, where he was stationed in Alaska. Qualheim met June Brassard, his future wife, at a dance in Hannibal. On Oct. 22, 1955, the couple was married at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Gilman.

The family moved to Shawano in 1967 from Antigo.

Qualheim’s community commitments included being a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano and the Masonic Lodge.