Gerald R. (Jerry) Shockley, 69, of Dodgeville, WI formerly of Livingston passed away peacefully on January 31, 2022, surrounded by family, after a long battle with a progressive chronic disease.
Jerry was born in Darlington, WI on November 13, 1952, to Ellsworth and Kathryn (Williams) Shockley. While still an infant, he moved with his parents and six older brothers and sisters to Livingston, WI where he lived for most of his life. Jerry graduated from Iowa-Grant High School in 1971 and the following year received certification from Southwest Tech as an autobody technician.
Jerry spent most of his career working on cars, first for Livingston Autobody and later Dan Kruse Pontiac in Dubuque, IA. He had a deep appreciation for anything with wheels and over the years had his own collection of cool cars, trucks, campers, and motorcycles. Jerry enjoyed camping, casual drives on back country roads, NASCAR races, Friday night fish fries, Saturday nights beers “up town” with his friends, holidays with his family, rooting for the Packers and Badgers, and his dogs Buster, Bernard, Winston, and Blackie. He was a good guy with a kind heart, easy humor, and willingness to help anyone out.
Throughout his life, Jerry was most proud of his service with the Livingston-Clifton Fire Department and Montfort Rescue Squad. He joined the fire department in 1972 where he served as a volunteer firefighter for 32 years, retiring as Assistant Fire Chief in 2004. In 1981, he joined the Montfort Rescue Squad as a volunteer certified EMT and responded to medical emergencies until 1999.
Jerry is survived by his sister, Naomi Kingery of Livingston, WI; brothers Dick (Sue) Shockley of Platteville, WI and Ed Shockley of Durand, IL; brothers-in-law Charlie (Lynn) Scullion of Highland, WI and Ron Franklin of Prairie du Chien, WI; and three generations of nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Nancy Williams, Helen Scullion and Connie Franklin; brothers-in-law Boyd Williams and Roger Kingery; sisters-in-law Gladys Shockley and Penny Shockley; and nephew Christopher Scullion.
Jerry’s family would like to thank the entire care staff at Bloomfield Rehabilitation Center in Dodgeville, WI where Jerry lived for the past four years. Their resources allowed Jerry to have a meaningful and enjoyable quality of life while keeping him close and connected to his family. Jerry appreciated the medical care, social support and good humor of the many staff and residents he spent time with as part of the Bloomfield community.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Livingston-Clifton Fire Department or Montfort Rescue Squad.
A visitation at the Soman-Larson Funeral Home in Montfort, WI will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 9:00 – 11:00 AM followed by a service at 11:00 AM with burial at the Rock Church Cemetery rural Livingston, WI. With the current public health environment, masks are welcome. The Soman-Larson Funeral Home of Montfort is assisting the family.