Sept. 1,2026 7:15a
(WGTD)---A well-known jazz guitarist from the area was one of two people who died following a head-on crash in Caledonia last week.
77 year-old Jack Grassel of Mt. Pleasant was the driver of a car that crossed the centerline and struck another. An 83 year-old woman in the other vehicle also died.
Grassel’s wife and co-performer Jill Jensen said in a social media post Monday that her husband had suffered a medical event just before the crash.
Jack and Jill performed for decades throughout southeast Wisconsin. The Milwaukee newspaper Shepherd Express described Grassel as one of the Milwaukee area’s top guitarists.
Grassel had been recovering from a stroke he suffered a year and a half ago.
He and Jill, an accomplished vocalist, returned to the stage just two weeks ago for a public performance in Milwaukee which turned out to be their last.
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