GERALD (JERRY) ROBERT GRIFFITHS nbsp; Jerry Griffiths formerly of West Allis and Delafield passed away suddenly at his home on Homestead Drive in Belgium Wednesday afternoon April 8 2009. He was 56 years old.nbsp; Jerry was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin on January 20 1953 the son of Howard and Lorraine Griffiths. After graduating from Nathan Hale High School in 1971 Jerry proudly served his country in the United States Navy. In the Navy Jerry pursued the medical field and graduated from the Surgical First Assistant program on August 3rd 1976.nbsp; He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1976 and joined St. Lukersquo;s Hospital as an operating room technician and later as a surgical first assistant. In 1984 he became a Board Certified Orthopedic Physicianrsquo;s Assistant. In 1989 he joined the 3M Company as a surgical sales representative and worked in that field until the present time.nbsp; During his career at 3M Jerry pursued innovation with a passion and received two US Patents for an x-ray cassette capable of being sterilized and another for a unique biological waste containment and treatment system.nbsp; He also received his real estate brokerrsquo;s license in 2008. nbsp; In his spare time Jerry pursued his love of fishing hunting and exploring the great outdoors.nbsp; Jerry particularly loved to connect with his family and friends by planning wonderful fishing trips.nbsp; He was an enthusiastic guide for all and would work very hard to find the fish.nbsp; For a period of time he was a licensed chartered fishing boat captain on Lake Michigan in addition to this other distinctions. He also was talented as an artist and painted unique and beautiful oil portraits. Jerry cherished and loved his family: his wife his mother and father brothers and sisters brothers and sisters-in-law and all of his nieces and nephews.nbsp; He dearly loved his five children who held a special place in his heart. He gave each of them the wonderful experience of hunting and fishing trips with him. Jerry had many dear friends to whom he was devoted. He was given great joy by his two English bull terriers Betsy and Bogy.nbsp; nbsp; He is survived by his parents Howard and Lorraine Griffiths (nee Gorichanas) of Hazelhurst wife Elizabeth Griffiths (nee Schumacher) of Belgium his five children Ryan Griffiths of Milwaukee Philip Griffiths of Milwaukee Kaila Binsfeld of Saukville Laura Griffiths of Belgium and Nick Pie of Belgium. Further surviving is his brother Steven (Cinda) Griffiths of Colgate and his sisters Jean (Daryl) Olson of West Allis Lori (Dan) Mielke of West Allis Mary Jane (Bill) Spitzer of West Allis and his sister-in-law Janis (Russell) Griffiths. He is also survived by his in-laws B.J. and Betty Schumacher of Oconomowoc his brothers and sisters-in-law Jon and Lori Anderson of Madison and Mary and Mark Hollister of Delafield. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews and his great-nieces and grand-nephews cousins and his many close friends. He was preceded in death by his dear brother Russell (Janis) Griffiths. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday April 15th at St. Mary Catholic Church Lake Church Wisconsin.nbsp; Father Jim Ernster will officiate.nbsp; The family will receive visitors on Tuesday April 14th from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Eernisse Funeral Home in Belgium Wisconsin.nbsp; The family will also receive visitors at the Church prior to Mass on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 11:00AM.nbsp; The Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. The family suggests donations to a charity of choice or to St. Mary Parish Lake Church Wisconsin.nbsp; br /Service:br /p11:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church Lake Church County Road D and Lake Church Road Belgium WI 53004 on April 15 2009 (a href=http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Belgiumamp;state=WIamp;address=County Road D and Lake Church Roadamp;zip=53004amp;country=usamp;zoom=8 target=_blankmap/driving directions/a) br //p