Richard Marien Jerrick, Sr.
May 31, 1936 - November 09, 2014
Obituary
MADISON– Richard Marien “Dick” Jerrick, age 78, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, of natural causes.
Dick was born May 31, 1936, in Madison, to Marien and Norma Jerrick. In 1954 he graduated from Madison East High School, and married Shirley Ann Hoiberg in 1955. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the UW-Madison, and spent more than 40 years in public service as a systems and data processing manager and Bureau Director with the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations. Dick was a volunteer with the United Way of Wisconsin for more than a decade, serving as vice president of priorities, and was a long-time member of the Elks. Dick was a competitive tennis player and long-time member of Cherokee Country Club. He was an energetic and creative craftsman, building furniture, designing tools, sculpting metal, and turning gallery-quality wood bowls. Dick was a devoted father, grandfather and master of fun. He put his whole heart into creating a home where family loved to congregate and play. His grandchildren described him as "awesome." Dick is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, Kari Coffman, Cathy McGinnis and Richard Jerrick, Jr.; sons-in-law, Carl Coffman and Daniel McGinnis; daughter-in-law, Laurie Jerrick; grandchildren, Rachel (Coffman) Mathias, Lydia Skaar, Craig Coffman, Jim Skaar, Richie Jerrick, Bailey Jerrick, Brody Jerrick and Isabella Jerrick; and by his sister, Marilyn Jerrick. At Dick’s request, there will be no formal services. The immediate family will gather privately to celebrate Dick's life. His ashes will be laid to rest in a grove of giant sequoia and redwood trees near his daughter’s home in Portland, Oregon. Memorials may be made to the United Way of Dane County or the University of Wisconsin Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
"The soul leaves the body as a school boy jumps from a schoolhouse door, suddenly and with joy.”
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608)221-5420
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Memories
CM
Cat (Jerrick) McGinnis
Other •
I can do anything
+ 11
LS
Ly Skaar
Other •
Grandpa
+ 27
CM
Cat (Jerrick) McGinnis
Other •
Dad's final resting place
CM
Cat (Jerrick) McGinnis
Other •
One of Dad's favorite songs from Les Miserables.
JD
Jane DeRosia
Other •
Enjoyed working with Dick for a few years starting in 1979. Always a hoot! My sympathies to the family
RM
Robert E. Miller
Other •
Dick and I started in electrical engineering together and our casual East High friendship continued.
(I was drafted before the second semester and didn't return to thew UW until 1959.) We were in the same Drafting class and both had required Phy Ed class right afterward. Drafting was in a quonset hut on Breeze Terrace and Phy Ed was in the Red Gym. We got more exercise trying to get to Phy Ed on time than we got in class and some days only made it as far as a sweet roll and a cup of coffee in the Rathskeller. During a very slow drafting class we were assigned to draw a machine block, both the front, which we could see and the back which we needed to figure out. There were close to forty holes in the block and we had to include all of them, front and back views, in our drawings. After about 30 minutes of everyone tediously drawing in complete silence, Dick said, "I'm about 7/8's bored!" It took about 10 minutes before the class could settle down and go back to the tedium of drawing the stupid machine block. We only ran into each other occasionally after the UW, but every time I think of Dick I always recall his quick wit and his warm and friendly manner. I will continue to remember him that way until I too am gone. Many people will also fondly remember him that way.
My condolences to his family.
Sincerely,
Bob "REM" Miller