Jerome G. Rice

Jerome “Jerry” Rice, age 74, of McFarland, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, March 24, 2025. Jerry was born on February 12, 1951, to Gerald and Rachel (Joyce) Rice. He grew up in Sextonville, WI, the ninth sibling of thirteen total siblings. Jerry graduated from Ithaca High School in 1969. Shortly after, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served his country for four years. His service began in San Diego and later took him to Vietnam during the Vietnam War where he was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. During his time on the ship he worked as a dental technician. After leaving the Navy, Jerry got a job working at Oscar Mayer in Madison, WI. He later started a painting business with his brother Tom called Rice Brothers. For the majority of his career, he worked as a painter for the State of Wisconsin at Mendota Mental Health Institute.

Jerry loved having so many brothers and sisters. He was proud of the way they all took care of each other and he always looked forward to large Rice gatherings, especially the Rice Reunions at Devil’s Lake and the Christmas parties.

Jerry married the love of his life, Jan Rice, in 1975. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this October. Jerry joined Jan in eternal life just 46 days after her passing. He cared for her for the entirety of her 6-year illness and did not leave her side as she lived out her last days at their house in McFarland. They lived at that same house that they built together for most of their marriage. This was the house where they raised both of their children, their biggest pride and joy. It was always “Jan and Jerry,” and it will always be “Jan and Jerry.”

One of Jerry’s favorite things to do was watch his boys play and coach football. With Jan, he attended every football game they played in at McFarland High School and later at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Once they transitioned into being football coaches, Jerry cheered on whichever team they were coaching. He was always their biggest and loudest fan. Jerry also enjoyed cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers with Jan. Along with her, he was a season ticket holder and part of a Badger tailgate group for over 15 years. If it was fall, you could usually find Jerry somewhere in the country sitting in a football stadium cheering on a football team, with Jan at his side.

If Jerry wasn’t watching football, he was probably golfing. He loved being a member of the Evansville Country Club and golfed there often. He and Jan achieved their bucket list goal of golfing in all 50 states in 2021. Jerry also enjoyed deer hunting in Muscoda every fall with his boys and pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota with his beloved pups, Jack, Lucky and Brett. Jerry traveled often throughout the US with Jan, and seemed to have no trouble keeping up with her jam packed itineraries. His favorite trips were driving down south with Jan to visit their son Matt and his family in Dallas, stopping at every Choctaw Casino along the way, and making a detour down to Mission, Texas to visit best friend and Navy buddy Kenny and his wife, Jamie.

Jan and his boys were everything to Jerry, however one might argue that being a grandpa was the icing on the cake of a life well-lived. He would tell anyone who would listen that he had “the purtiest granddaughters.” Jerry was the best baby-sitter for baby Emily and claimed to have changed more diapers for his grandchildren than he ever did for his own kids. He didn’t miss an event that his grandchildren participated in, whether a sporting event, concert or birthday, and traveled to Texas as often as possible to see his grandsons. Having all his kids and grandkids in one place meant everything to Jerry.

Jerry is survived by two sons, Matthew (Whitney) and Andy (Amy). He also leaves behind four grandchildren, Mason, Samantha, Emily and Colin. He is also survived by nine brothers and sisters, Diane Anderson, Donna Holz, Thomas (Beverly) Rice, Michael Rice, Patrick (Carol) Rice, Mary (Steve) Dana, Daniel (Sandy) Rice, and John (Rita) Rice; sisters-in-law, Becky and Helen Rice; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jan Rice; brothers, Bill and Richard Rice; sisters, Maureen Mooney (Tom) and Theresa Rice; brothers-in-law, Fritz Anderson and Howard Holz; and sister-in-law, Sharlene Rice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5306 Main St, McFarland, WI. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park directly following the service. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Cress Funeral Home, 5801 Hwy 51, McFarland, WI, and also from 10:00 a.m. until the Mass at the church on Thursday.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

5801 Highway 51, P.O. Box 105, McFarland

(608) 838-0655

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com