Gerald Cummings Obituary

Gerald Francis Cummings

Dec. 19, 1933 - Oct. 23, 2023

BARABOO - Gerald Francis "Jerry" Cummings, age 89, of Baraboo, passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 at St. Clare Hospital with family by his side.

Jerry, son of Raymond and Marcella (Sullivan) Cummings was born on Dec. 19, 1933 in Baraboo. He was the fifth of six boys. He attended the Lower Dells Grade School, St. Joseph Catholic School and Baraboo High School. He also attended and graduated from UW-Madison Agriculture Short Course. He also took classes at Madison Business College and specialized in Bookkeeping and Farm courses.

On Sept. 16, 1972, he was united in marriage to Rosie Westphal at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Jerry worked at Patrick Cudahy in Cudahy, WI buying cattle. Jerry clerked auction sales with his father in the auctioneering business.

He was in the National Guard for nine years. He was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA as a member of the Red Arrows, 32nd Division in the National Guard.

Jerry was employed at Badger Army Ammunition Plant for 32 years as an Area Mechanic. While at Badger he was President of the employee BOW Club. He also belonged to the Machinist National Union. Jerry operated his own dairy farm and helped on the home farm raising hogs and beef cattle. Before retiring, Jerry worked at Adesa for 16 years transporting vehicles over the states of Wisconsin and Illinois.

In August of 2022 Jerry was given an Appreciation Award for Veterans from SSM Health and Home Health United. This was in honor of his service in the National Guard and Army. A certificate and a Quilt of Valor were given to him at a program attended by SSM employees and Valors for Veterans from Iowa.

Jerry was Commander of American Legion Post 26. Along with being Commander he was also President of the Veterans Memorial Committee and was one of the charter members of the committee in the 1980's. He was instrumental in building the Korean and VietNam wings to the existing WWI and WWII Memorials. Jerry was awarded a Certificate of Valor for being President of the Veterans Memorial Committee for 37 years. This was given to him on a Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11, 2022.

He was very active at St. Joseph Catholic Church being on the Parish Council for four years, Co-Chairman and Chairman of the Parish Festival, he ushered at the 10:30 a.m. mass for many years and also served as Chairman of the St. Joseph Cemetery Committee.

He belonged to the Baraboo Lions Club, was President of the Eagle's Club, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the Elk's Club for over 50 years.

Jerry and Rosie were world travelers. They traveled throughout the 50 United States, plus Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands and 15 foreign countries. But the Bucket List did not get completed. They loved the Presidential Libraries and visited all of them but two. They loved to travel and they had made many friends in different places. Several cruises were also taken with no water sickness admitted. Don't ask Jerry about almost missing the cruise ship in Miami, FL.

There is so much to say about Jerry. He was full of Irish humor and jokes and he loved to talk and tell you stories of the past. He loved everyone, never said a bad word about anyone and treated everyone with respect and dignity. He always said you have to get along with people.

His favorite hobby was collecting pens from all over the world. He never forgot to buy his friends pens wherever he traveled.

Whatever restaurant he visited he always asked the waitress for a Big Mac. He wanted to see what the waitress would say or if she would say go across the street or something clever back to him. He loved the Big Macs. He also loved the Lemon Pepper Rainbow Trout at Cracker Barrel. That seemed to be the Friday night get together.

Don't ask him about card playing because that's the way we do it in Fairfield with the Fairfield Shuffle. Hand and foot was his favorite playing with friends.

He is survived by his wife, Rosie, of over 51 years; daughter, Lisa (Tom) Runnels; and granddaughters: Jacqi and Jamie Runnels; one brother, Kenneth (DuVonne) Cummings; sister-in-law, JoAnne Cummings; godchild, Mary Williams; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Jack (Lorraine), Raymond Thomas "Tom" (Juanita), Bill (Sally), Riley, sister-in-law, Lorraine Bates and nephews: John, Kevin, Billy, Dennis and Mike Cummings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of mass at church. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or a charity of your choice in Jerry's name.

The family would like to thank the care team at SSM Health Hospice for their extraordinary care of Jerry and family, especially Allison and Yvonne.