MADISON / MESA, Ariz. / LODI - Jerald J. Jansen, age 78, passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025. Jerry was born on February 10, 1947, in Fond du Lac, Wis., a son of Earl and Marjorie (Miller) Jansen.

Jerry graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac in 1965, before attending the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He left school after about two years to enter the workforce; however, returned to UW at age 43 when he completed his B.A. in 1994. He went on to earn his M.S. in Social Work at the Madison campus. Between those times, Jerry had a varied career in the sales, restaurant, and the communications fields in Middleton, moving on to start a 30-year career in 1972 working with troubled youth and their families for the Dane County Juvenile Court, retiring in 2002. Beginning in 1979, Jerry began a concurrent career in law enforcement as a part-time police officer for the Village of Shorewood Hills. He rose to Lieutenant in 1981 and was appointed Chief of Police in 1996 where he remained until he retired in 2004. Jerry then moved to the UW-Madison Police Department, where he served for three more years, retiring again, as Assistant Chief in 2007.

During his law enforcement career Jerry served as the President of the Dane County Chiefs of Police in 2000-2001, and on the Borad of Directors of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association for six years. He also served on the Board and as President of the Wisconsin Police Leadership Foundation. One of his proudest accomplishments was to create the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Death Response (LEDR) Team, consisting of officers, deputies, chiefs, sheriffs, and others who are trained to respond to a law enforcement death in the state. He believed that the sister and brotherhood of policing is a strong bond and the survivors of tragic deaths, often in the line-of-duty, needed immediate support to avoid some of the traumatic effects of these deaths.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Diana; their children, Eric (Joan) Matz of Puerto Rico, Heidi (Kevin) Hargis of Lodi, Wis., and Jennifer (Jim) Beine of Hartford, Wis.; his 12 grandchildren, Joshua Collier, Matthew Collier, Rachel Yerich, Cara Collier, Holly Hargis, Jacob Hargis, Brock Hargis, Hannah Hargis, Martha Mabe, Robert Matz, Catherine Matz, and Amelia Dukic; many great-grandchildren; and his sisters, Julie (John) Coffey and Jeanne (Steve) Halfmann. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph and Viola Miller of Covington, Ind., and Mathias and Mary Jansen of New Holstein, Wis.; as well as his mother, Marjorie M. Keenlance of Fond du Lac, his father, Earl J. Jansen of Waupaca and brother, Jeffrey Keenlance of Fond du Lac.

A Celebration of Life is being organized for a later date.

Memorials may be made to: Agrace HospiceCare or the Wisconsin Police Leadership Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Lodi

Funeral & Cremation Care

157 S. Main St.

(608) 592-3201

Jerald Joseph Jansen

February 10, 1947 - August 03, 2025

Share photos of Jerald