Jerald Joseph Jansen

Prayers to Diana. Jerry was a super gentleman. As Middleton EMS went a great partner. And leader. RIP Jerry.

I remember Jerry well from my time at Middleton EMS when he led that organization as well as interactions over the years. He was kind and thoughtful and was the kind of leader we should all hope to work under.

The Village of Shorewood Hills greatly benefited from Jerry’s wise leadership. For 25 years, Jerry served with the Village Police Department, the last 8 years as Police Chief. About a decade ago, the Village Board hired Jerry back for a short-term period as Interim Police Chief when we were between permanent Police Chiefs. One of Jerry’s attributes I admired the most was his attention to Village youth. Relying on his prior training while working for the Dane County Juvenile Court Program, Jerry would often quitely counsel Village youth who had been in arrested and would meet with them for years after in an attempt to cajole them to consider walking better pathways in life. May he rest in peace. Dave Benforado (Shorewood Hills Village Board, 2004-2023; Village President 2017-2023)

Goodbye Grandpa. It’s hard to sum up who you were as a person because you were so much to so many people. You were a leader in the police force, and, consistently, within whatever community you migrated to. You were a wordsmith, someone who loved to read, write, and turn a phrase into something light and playful. Thoughtful with your words and generous with your laughter. Open-says-a-me, Bappy herthday, Cherry Mistmas, Pweetie sigh. You were campfires and ghost stories, broadway plays and small productions, you were lumberjacks in love and the ghost of highway Q. You were knowing everybody, everywhere, in every restaurant we walked into. You were a wrangler of ornery cats, unseen magic soothing them to settle on the back of your recliners. You were once a boy scout, an honor you carried through your life and career with hopes of fusing social compassion and a just society. You were a lover of history, inspired by Lincoln (not just in height). You were a husband, married to the love of your life for 45 years. You were my Grandpa, and although I know I’ll never wrap my arms around you again and squeeze the living bejesus out of you, I also know you were in pain. And that you fought that for many years to continue to be all of these things, especially to be with Grandma. You were more than just my Grandpa- a Great Grandpa, Brother, Step-Father, Chief Jansen, Roadwriter777, the ‘Jerry’ of ‘Jerry and Diana’ and the world is dimmer without you.

I have very fond memories of working with Jerry and Diana at Middletown EMS. Jerry was a kind and living person, and a friend. I will miss you Jerry!🚑. Sue Kartman