Dale Jennerjohn

Shorewood Hills - Dale "D.J." Jennerjohn at age 89, passed away peacefully at UW Hospitals on Friday, March 16, 2012. He was born in Milwaukee on September 9, 1922 the son of Edward and Anna (Struntz) Jennerjohn. He attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison and in June of 1944 he received his BS in civil engineering. From 1945 to 1946 he served in the U.S. Army and was invited by General Groves to join the Manhattan Project as an engineer draftsman in Los Alamos, NM. He drew diagrams of mechanical component parts and he witnessed the first atomic bomb testing in the desert near Alamogordo, NM. After his service in the Army he returned to UW Madison in 1947 to obtain his MS in civil engineering. In 1950 he joined the Wisconsin State Board of Health Hospital Division and became the Bureau Director of Hospitals and Related Facilities and Services. He worked to improve nursing homes and helped to develop many small hospitals in rural Wisconsin. He was a member of the American Association for Hospital Planning. Dale retired in 1985. He was also the Alumni Financial Advisor for the Theta Chi Fraternity at UW Madison from 1961 to 1992, the Trustee for the Village of Shorewood Hills from 1962 to 1964 and the President of Madison Gyro Club for three terms.
In Madison, Dale met the love of his life Joan "Josie" Gauchat and they were married on June 19, 1954. They enjoyed traveling to Europe, Mexico and Nova Scotia and much of the USA-wintering for ten years in Green Valley, AZ. They settled in the Shorewood Hills neighborhood and developed a large network of wonderful friends and became long time members at Blackhawk Country Club and Harbor Athletic Club. Dale enjoyed his many friends, loved golf until his game and his knees gave out and loved to tell Ole & Lena jokes as long as the laughter continued or until he received the "wifely signal" to stop. He also enjoyed bridge, reading, classical music and cooking. He was well known for his delicious German dinners.
He is survived by his loving wife, Joan, of 58 years and their two children; Pam (Gus) Bock and children, Hans and Karl and John (Dawn) Jennerjohn and children, Cameron, Christopher and Courtney; sister Carol Leatherbury; sister and brother-in-law Martha and Ted Groenke and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his son David; mother-in-law, Ruth Gauchat and father-in-law, Dr. Harry Gauchat; brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Ione Jennerjohn; brother-in-law, Rev Paul Leatherbury and niece, Kay Reitberger.
Dale's family extends a special thanks to the staff of Attic Angel Health Center and the staff of UW Hospitals and Dr. Tyler Steward for their compassionate care given to Dale. We love you and will miss you, Papa.
There will be a family service at Our Lady Queen of Peace and a celebration of life at BLACKHAWK COUNTRY CLUB, 3606 Blackhawk Drive on Saturday, March 24th, 2012 from 2:00 - 4:30 pm. Memorials may be made to Attic Angel Health Center, 8301 Old Sauk Rd, Middleton, WI 53562 or Alzheimer's Association, South Central WI Chapter, 7818 Big Sky Drive, Ste 109, Madison, WI 53719.