MADISON - Rathbun K. “Bernie” Rhodes passed away on Aug. 29, 2024. He was born on April 19, 1952, in Wilmington, N.C., the son of Roxanna D. and Quinton E. Rhodes Sr. Bernie is survived by his older brother, Quinton Rhodes Jr.; and sister-in-law, Maureen Rhodes (nee Tarris). The family relocated to Jacksonville, Fla., in 1960 with the relocation of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad headquarters.

Bernie attended parochial school, Bishop Kenny High School, and Jacksonville University through his college graduation in 1974. He then went to University of North Carolina for the next five year to get his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry. After a short post-doctorate at the University of Houston, he moved to Madison, Wis., to begin his career as a sensor electrochemist. He remained in Madison from then, to the time of his passing.

His job stops included Ohio Medical Products/Ohmeda, University of Wisconsin and a joint venture in Markwell Medical Products to develop glucose sensors. This later work helped the original founding technology to move from R&D to product development on a startup company called Dexcom. That company grew over the years to be the standard for glucose monitoring and eventually became a SOP 500 company. He retired in 2002 due to kidney disease and lived the rest of his life as carefully as possible.

In 1970. He was a walk on to the freshman basketball team at Jacksonville University.The previous year, 1969, Jacksonville University's basketball team played in the NCAA tournament reaching the final game losing to UCLA.

With his fortunate participation in Dexcom, he was able to fund his early retirement and provide philanthropic assistance to his prior alma maters and local parishes. He was a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society, a JV Order of the Dolphin donor who established a small scholarship for science students and was a member at UNC Chancellor’s Club and Gerrard Society.

He felt fortunate to have lived during this time era with a supportive family and the opportunity to interact with excellent teachers and professors, terrific friends and peers and see the working of successful business from the inside-out. As a fan of ‘60s to ‘80s popular music, he optimistically lived by the motto, “Oh what a lucky man he was.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Wednesday.

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

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Rathbun Kendrick "Bernie" Rhodes

April 19, 1952 - August 29, 2024

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