COTTAGE GROVE - Jerome “Lefty” E. Jodar, age 94, of Cottage Grove, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. He was born on July 1, 1931, in Plymouth, the son of Otto and Jennie (Boehnlein) Jodar.

Jerome graduated from New Holstein High School in 1949 and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UW-Whitewater in 1957. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1953. He then joined American Family Insurance as a chief accountant where he worked for 38 years, retiring in 1995.

Jerome was united in marriage to Donna J. Purcell on June 18, 1966, and together they had three children.

He was a member of the Cathedral of St. Bernard Catholic Church, where he was involved in many activities, including ushering, money counting, volunteering at the yearly festival, and numerous years of singing in the church choir.

Jerome was a sports enthusiast; he loved the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Wisconsin Badgers.

Jerome is survived by his children, Julie (Brian) Learned, Daniel Jodar and Jill (Joel Goldfoot) Jodar; grandsons, Justin Terry and Nathan (Jeryn) Learned; great-grandchildren, Violet and Charlotte; sisters-in-law, Mary Jodar and Maggie Purcell; and brother-in-law, Michael (Donna) Purcell. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; parents, Otto and Jennie; and brothers, Robert and Donald Jodar.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026, with Fr. Michael Radowicz presiding. Final resting place will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Monday. 

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Jerome E. Jodar

July 01, 1931 - December 30, 2025

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