Jerome Francis McGarvey, 89, passed away peacefully Monday, June 24, 2013, at Four Winds Manor in Verona, Wis., with his bride of 68 years by his side.
He was born in Butler, Wis., on May 28, 1924 to William and Agnes (O’Rourke) McGarvey. When he was 8, his family moved to a farm about six miles northeast of Wilton on Highway 131.
Jerome attended a Catholic elementary school for two years and completed grade school at Cold Springs, a one-room country school. He graduated from Wilton High School in 1942. He was active in sports, including basketball, baseball and boxing. At a dance in 1943, he met Beverly Jane Wruck. They married June 7, 1945, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Norwalk. After a short career in construction, they moved in 1948 to the family farm, where they stayed until selling the farm in 1965. Shortly after selling the farm, they moved to Verona. Jerome worked for the State of Wisconsin in several positions until his retirement in 1995.
Jerome was an avid sports fan and played baseball and softball for years after high school. Besides following all of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin professional teams and golfers, he watched any sporting contest on TV. Being the “King of the Remote,” he could sometimes follow more than one game at a time. Jerome also loved to dance. Before his physical condition prevented it, he and Bev spent many hours on the dance floor at various venues in the area. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed the opportunity to travel to Ireland.
Jerome is survived by his wife, Beverly; his daughter, JoCarol Marie “Jody” Farmer of Janesville; his son, James Jerome of Verona; his grandson, Jay (Tara) of Onalaska; his granddaughter, Jeana (Brad Thom) Farmer of Janesville; his sisters-in-law, Belva Zimmerman of Wilton and Bess McGarvey of Arizona; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Edward, Floyd, Jack and an unnamed infant; three sisters, Loretta Birkholz, Marie Trakel and Joan Dutton; a brother-in-law, Eugene Zimmerman; and two nieces.
A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 301 N. Main St., Verona, with Father William Vernon presiding. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Wilton, with Father Richard Dickman presiding over committal rites.
The family would like to thank the staffs at Four Winds Manor and Agrace Hospice for the competent and caring attention given to Jerome.
To view and sign the guestbook, please visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com.
