Jerome “Jerry/Domie” Vetter

Jerome “Jerry/Domie” Vetter, age 97, passed away on Saturday, October 21^st, 2023, surrounded by loving family at Oakwood Village’s Covenant Oaks Care Community, Madison WI.

He was born on September 8^Th, 1926 in Madison WI, the son of Leo and Magdalen (Endres) Vetter. Jerome was raised in Madison’s St. James neighborhood and graduated from Madison West High School in June of 1944. It was during these years that he developed his lifelong love for athletics, participating in football, basketball, and track, winning the Wisconsin State High School Pole Vault Championship in 1944. In September of 1944 he enlisted in the US Navy where he served aboard Landing Craft LSM 490 in the South Pacific in World War II.

Following the war, he returned to Madison and entered an apprenticeship program with the Steam-Fitters Local 394.  Upon completion, he started work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Physical Plant Steam-Fitters Shop where he worked for 40 years until his retirement. He remained a proud union member of Local 394 his entire life. He married his loving wife, Helen Griffith on May 5, 1951 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Madison, WI. Jerome was a dedicated husband and father and time with his family was his lifelong priority.

In retirement, Jerome became an avid golfer and adopted Glenway Golf Course as his home course playing there every day he could.  He was the first golfer out on Glenway every April and often the last golfer playing at Glenway in November, enjoying the friendship of his golfing buddies. He also filled his retirement years with family enjoying his thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.  He attended more plays, music recitals, dance performances, concerts, and  grandchildren sporting events than we are able to count.   He had a knack for letting every grandchild and great grandchild know how special they were. He was a lifelong Packers, Brewers, and Badger sports fan and loved playing cards, especially Euchre, with family and friends.  He also greatly enjoyed playing fast pitch softball and competed for more than 40 years in Madison’s City Softball Leagues.

He is survived by his children; Bob (Terri) Vetter, Tom (JoAnn) Vetter, Terrie (Tom ) Hart, Mike (MaryJo) Vetter; thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren; Katie (Nate) Stading and their children Kellen and Peyton; Kelly (Ted) Clark and their children Millie and Rogan; Tim (Kristin) Vetter and their children Charlie, Maddie and Jax;  Jake (Kelly) Vetter and their children Whitley, Presley and Jace; Joe Vetter; Jessie (Scott) McConnell and their children Brady and Jordy; Jon Vetter; Paul (Stacy) Hart and their children Ivy and Twyla; Mike Hart; Laura (Mike) Scanlon; Danielle Vetter; Nicole(Max) Paolicchi and their child Morgan; and AJ (Madi) Vetter along with many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

Jerome was preceded in death by his loving wife, Helen, their daughter, Mary Catherine, who died at birth, his parents Leo and Magdalen, his brother, Robert Vetter and his sisters Helene (Ronald) Glasier and Dorothy (Peter) Cafferty.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison WI, on Saturday, October 28, 2023, with visitation commencing at 9:30 a.m. until the time of the mass at 11:00 a.m.

Memorials may be gifted in Jerome’s name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital www.stjude.org/donate or Our Lady Queen of Peace School Endowment Fund.

Our family would like to thank the staff at Oakwood Village’s Tabor Oaks and Covenant Oaks Care Communities as well as the staff from Agrace Hospice Care for the loving care our Dad received. His kind heart and gentle spirit touched all who knew him. Our Dad, Jerome, lived a simple life, but his life was simply lived well. Thank you, Dad, for the gift of your life.

Cress Funeral Service

3610 Speedway Rd.

Madison, WI 53705

608-238-3434