Jay Rotter
March 06, 1963 - May 28, 2025
Obituary
LIVESTREAM SERVICE:
Jay’s Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”
MADISON- Jay Rotter, age 62, of Madison, passed away and entered joyful eternal rest on May 28, 2025, at his residence after living with cancer for 2 ½ years. He was born in March of 1963, in Oconto Falls, Wis., the son of Robert “Rab” and Marilyn (Krause) Rotter.
Jay graduated from Oconto Falls High School, Class of 1981, and attended UW-Green Bay. In August of 2000, he married Jeanne Pegelow at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Madison. Jay worked as an optician for his entire life, starting with Wisconsin Optical Services (WOS) with his Aunt Janet in the ‘80s. He retired in 2022 from SSM-Davis Duehr Dean. Jay preferred lab work, and loved to problem solve and teach others optics. In “retirement,” in addition to lending optical support to the CraftOptics team, he helped a young student living in Belize to obtain a prescription and glasses.
What Jay loved the most over the last 20+ years - was all the time with his son. He enjoyed playground duty, serving as a chaperone on school trips, supporting his sports and his career as a U.S. Marine. Jay’s favorite things were adventures with Jeanne, Robert and friends: hiking, biking, kayaking, cooking and eating, parking lot picnics (i.e.: dirt league), group cooked dinners and “JAY” food art. In addition, Jay was an active member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Dennis Catholic Church. One of his favorite volunteer activities with the Knights was their annual pancake breakfasts. He was active with the St. Dennis Parish Festival, volunteering for many roles, including as a crossing guard for their 5K walk/run. Jay loved to travel to Belize (in 2017 and 2023) on mission trips with St. Dennis' Lighthouse Ministries. The love and faith we experienced with the Belize people is truly inspirational.
Jay is survived by his wife, Jeanne; son, Robert; brother, Jeff (Fran) Rotter; niece, Sara (Tyler) Jacobson; nephew, Matthew Rotter; mother-in-law, Barb Pegelow; and other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Rufus (Genevieve) Krause and Art (Marie) Rotter; and father-in-law, Harlan Pegelow.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at QUEEN OF APOSTLES PARISH, ST. DENNIS CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday June 14, 2025, with the Rev. Michael Tarigopula and Deacon Dave Hendrickson presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday. Private burial will be held with family at future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Dennis Lighthouse Ministries (the Belize Scholarship Fund), the UW Carbone Cancer Center, or Agrace HospiceCare. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
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