Richard "Rich" J. Staley
June 16, 1933 - December 17, 2025
Obituary
MADISON - Richard J. Staley passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. He was born on June 16, 1933, in Madison, Wis., the first child of George J. Staley and Mabel (Ohre) Staley.
Rich lived most of his life in Madison, except for three years in Wisconsin Rapids, where he graduated from Lincoln High School in 1952. He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and St. Norbert College in DePere, Wis. Rich served in the U.S. Army for three years and spent 17 months in Korea on the General Staff, KMAG. He was honorably discharged and returned to Madison, where he further served three years in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Rich graduated from Madison Business College in 1960, where he met Fay Norris, who became his best friend. On November 26, 1965, she became his loving wife. Rich worked several years for International Harvester Company as an accountant and for Transamerica Financial Corporation as a manager, before joining the Metropolitan Life family, where he worked for 43 years in sales and management.
Rich was a member of Hiram Lodge No. 50, where he served as Worshipful Master, Wisconsin Association of Life Underwriters, East Side Businessmen's Association, Madison Elks Lodge, the Korean Veterans Association, as well as serving on several boards/committees in the Village of McFarland government.
Rich was a kind, thoughtful and generous man who was always ready to lend a comforting hand. He was fun loving and always ready for a good time. If you ever needed a joke- you just had to ask Rich, he "had a million of ‘em."
Rich is survived by his nieces and nephews: Deborah Meyer, Todd Sherlock, Ann Sherlock (Bob) Jones, Jon (Rosa) Norris, Nila (Clayton) Zanker; great-nephews and great-nieces: Gabriella Meyer, Jesse Meyer, Alyssa Pesklevi, Russell (Kim) Sherlock, Maggie Rose Sherlock-Jones, Jed (Mindy) Norris, Jasmine Norris (Paul Silvios), Ryan Staley and Michael Staley; and great-great-nephew, Daniel Sherlock. He is also survived by his "grandson" of the heart, Matthew Hale and his mother, Sue Hale of Sun Prairie; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Fay “Babe” on July 27, 2017; his parents; brother, Ron; brother-in-law, Dr. Jed Norris; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Norris.
A masonic and funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Monday, December 29, 2025, with the Rev. Elisa Brandt presiding. Burial will take place at Roselawn Memorial Park. A visitation will be at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church or Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 50. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
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