Gerald Ray Dunn

Gerald Ray Dunn, age 89, passed away on June 23, 2025, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics in Madison, Wisconsin following an unfortunate accident earlier that day. His beloved wife, Jane, was by his side until his passing.

Jerry was born on June 14, 1936, in La Grande, Oregon, to Afton (Hardy) and George Dunn. During his childhood, his family moved frequently, living in Utah, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.

On April 30, 1957, Jerry married Jannelle Loughmiller. Together, they had two wonderful daughters, Susan and Barbara. The family lived in Seattle, Washington, and San Jose, California. Jerry became a proud grandfather with the birth of Jessica on December 4, 1981, and a great-grandfather with the arrival of Dylan on March 17, 2004. Jerry and Jannelle divorced in 1979.

In April 1984, Jerry met Jane Marie Pachura Woeckener, his true love, and they married on July 12, 1986, at Stanford Chapel in Stanford, California. Their love story spanned over 40 years, filled with joy and partnership. Their journey together took them to Sunnyvale and Cupertino, California, and eventually to Madison, Wisconsin, where they settled in 1991.

Jerry graduated from West Phoenix High School in Arizona. He began working at age 13 as a tile setter’s helper in the family business Dunn Tile Contracting Inc. After a serious auto accident, he changed career paths and pursued electronics engineering. He studied at Portland Electronics College in Portland, Highline College in Midway, and University of Washington in Seattle. Later, he obtained a BA in Management from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California, in 1988.

While supporting himself through school, Jerry began his engineering career at The Boeing Company in Seattle, where he worked for eight years, including two years in solid-state physics research and six years in metrology.

Over his 40-year career, Jerry worked as a product design test engineer, research and development engineer, and engineering manager. He contributed to innovations in television, medical equipment, military, and semiconductor industries. His employers included Boeing in Seattle; Ampex Corporation, Echo Science Corporation, Xonics Imaging, Optical Specialties Inc, International Imaging Systems, Inc in the Silicon Valley. In Wisconsin, he worked with CDI Corporation on medical ventilator sensors for Ohmeda and developed a four-color video camera for printing presses at Quad Tech. He later managed the Metrology Department at Covance until his retirement in 2003.

Outside of work, Jerry loved listening to music, playing musical instruments (guitar, ukulele, and keyboard), reading, writing, playing card and board games, and travel. He and Jane shared a passion for travel in the U.S. and world, often including family - mothers, daughters, grandchildren, sisters, nieces and nephews, and others - on their adventures, creating cherished memories. He toured sites in four continents and over 40 states.

Family was Jerry’s greatest joy. He and Jane welcomed both of their mothers into their Madison home. They were active members of the Polish Heritage Club of Madison, where Jerry proudly wore his “Polish by Marriage” shirt, despite his Swiss and English heritage. He also supported Jane and her sister Jean in their involvement with the Polanki Polish Women’s Club of Milwaukee, where he was affectionately known for his sweet tooth. When traveling with Polanki, the ladies would share their desserts with him.

His goal was to have a happy and fulfilling life and marriage, which he did in so many ways. Jerry and Jane were a perfect match for each other. He frequently called his daughters, granddaughter, and great-grandson who lived on the West Coast. He participated in monthly Hardy family Zoom calls and several Hardy reunions, including a surprise 70th birthday celebration in 2006. He celebrated holidays and vacations with family across the country, always strengthening bonds with the next generation.

Jerry was kind, intelligent, funny, generous, wise, and always an engineer at heart. He gladly repaired items for the family. He loved sharing his knowledge and was deeply loved in return. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Afton and George Dunn; Ingrid and Ernest Hardy, grandparents; granddaughter, Jessica Blair; brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Carolyn Dunn; ex-wife, Jannelle Dunn; in-laws, Edward and Helen Pachura; brother-in-law, Joseph Pachura; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; daughters, Susan Dunn Ramirez and Barbara Dunn; Dylan Blair, great grandson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jean and Ronald Wroblewski, Joan and Fred Spindler, Christy Pachura; nieces and nephews: Jennifer (Arturo) Flores, Rachel (Curtis) Hooten, Kimberly Pachura (Jason Ferman); Jamie Pachura; Cherie Ward, Corina (Dane) Schilling, Catherine Dunn, and Lori Crabtree; great nieces and nephews: Antonio, Daniela, and Alexa Flores, Rayna, Chloe, and Madix Hooten; and many Hardy family cousins and their children.

“No time on earth is long enough to share with those we love.”

Funeral services will be held on July 14, 2025 at Cress Center 6021, University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin with Visitation from 1-3PM and Time of Remembrance at 3PM. Burial will be on September 15, 2025 at Mountain View Cemetery, 500 Hilda Street, Oregon City, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be made to University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (medical research), The University League-Madison (engineering and music scholarships), First Wisconsin (robotics achievement programs), and Mr. Holland’s Opus (music). Special thanks to the many physicians and healthcare staff who cared for Jerry through the years. Thank you for supporting the family during this time of deep loss and for celebrating the life of a truly special man.