Jack G. Trojan, 88, of Whitewater, passed away March 21, 2025, at his home. Born May 6, 1936, he lived in Milwaukee, WI until moving to Richland Center, WI in 1944. Beloved husband of Diane, he was preceded in death by his parents Joseph (Jack) Trojan and Francis (Fanny) Trojan. He is survived by a sister, Shirley Trojan (Curnow), of Richland Center, WI and brother-in-law, David Kaltenback, of Lynnwood, WA, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Jack enriched the lives of many during his thirty-three-year career in Education, both as a classroom teacher teaching Industrial Arts education and as a school administrator holding several different positions. Education was his passion, holding as many as eleven licensed certifications at one time during his thirty-three-year career. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Platteville, a master’s degree from the University of Northern CO in Industrial Arts and School Administration and Specialist degree from UW-Madison in School Administration.
He joined the WI National Guard in Platteville in 1958, serving six months in active duty. He later joined the teaching staff in Lancaster, WI becoming the high school’s first industrial arts instructor. While there, he became involved with Lancaster’s new high school architectural committee and worked with the University of Platteville in designing the industrial arts facility for the new high school. In October of 1960, his national Guard Unit was activated during the Berlin Crisis. After serving a year on active duty, he was released from active duty and joined the teaching staff in Mayville, WI. While on staff, he was again asked to participate in the building committee for their new high school. It was in Mayville that he was the first industrial arts teacher in the state to introduce the concept of Vocational Education into the classroom, teaching students home construction and mass production. He was active with the Mayville Lions Club and worked summers at Maysteel Corp as a Project Engineer.
In 1967, he became the high school principal in Cuba City, WI. After two years, he came to Whitewater, WI joining the administrative staff as the Director of Instruction. During the 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Whitewater Unified School District was the fastest growing public system in the state. Jack’s responsibilities included organizing the new library and multi-media service K-12, unifying the academic programs, and developing coordinating instructional and student teacher programs with the local University and writing federal program proposals that eventually brought several thousands of federal dollars for multimedia equipment and instructional materials and academic improvements.
During his employment, he wrote magazine articles for DPI newsletters and WSLMA. Nationally, his publications included “Catch a Personality, Put It Down on Paper” and “Music Programs Remain Traditional and Strong in Wisconsin Schools.” His writings
earned him a place in the book of “Who’s Who in the Midwest.” During Jack’s tenure, he served on several DPI statewide committees including one which re-wrote the certification for librarians. The updated certification combined the library/multi-media services into one certification.
Through his community activities with local businesses, he introduced “Career Day” at the high school and organized “Student Visitation Days” with local industries. Jack’s commitment to community service included bringing cable television to the city,
university, and public schools. He was a Whitewater Chamber of Commerce City Ambassador and helped start the Meals on Wheels Program. Jack was an active member of the evening Kiwanis and charter member of the morning Kiwanis, serving on
the board, as secretary/treasurer, and as its president He also was the school coordinator for the school’s AFS program. Jack was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and Holy Family Catholic Church in Minocqua where he maintained a summer home since 1972.
His smile, joy, humor, compassion and love will be remembered and missed by everyone he touched.
