Jelle, Dick
July 4, 1951 - July 19, 2010
Hollandale - Dick (John Richard) Jelle, 59, of Hollandale, passed away on July 19, 2010, following a stroke on Saturday. Dick was born to Harley and Marie (Nondorf) Jelle on July 4, 1951, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Dodgeville. He married the former Bobbi Goldthorpe on October 21, 1972. He is further survived by four children, John (Klara) Jelle, of Livingston; Jamie Jelle and Jim Jelle, of Hollandale and Jessie Jelle (Tim Rakow), of Avoca; three grandchildren, Matthew Goldthorpe, Adriana and Josie Jelle, and another expected at the end of August. He is also survived by his sister Terri (Chuck) Davis, of Spring Green; his brothers, Fran (Kathy) Jelle, of Arena; Tim (Peggy) Jelle, of Verona, and Dick (Kathy) Noskey, of Lowell, Michigan; his aunts Bernie Ternes, Irene Saliva, Lorraine Schram, Alice Nondorf, Virginia Nondorf, Millie Nondorf, and Dorothy Jelle, his sisters and brothers-in law, Eileen (David) Drake, Terri (Bill) Kinsman, Maryclaire (Ray) Murphy, Colleen (Lenny) Hooks, Rob (Tracy Beerkircher) Goldthorpe, Dave (Marita) Olson, Dan (Kaye) Goldthorpe, and Lori (Mike) McGowan, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harley and Marie Jelle, his in-laws, Bob Goldthorpe, Sr., Claire Goldthorpe Strand and Bill Strand, a sister-in-law, Marsha Goldthorpe Olson, nephews, Jeremy Robert Olson, Cody Olson and niece, Pam Kinsman.
Dick graduated from River Valley High School in 1969 and began his career with GT&E. This was interrupted by his service in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1972 and resumed his telephone career. Dick was with GT&E for 30 years, retiring in 1999. Following his retirement from GT&E, he worked for CenturyLink from 2000 until his passing. Dick also served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Dick’s passions in life were his family, his ‘phone’ career, oldies tunes, muscle cars, research to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes, history (especially the WWII era) and people. Dick was a ‘people person’. Dick loved kids; he was a kid at heart. He was a great listener and would have made a good counselor, as anyone at the Squeaky Wheel could tell you. Dick also wished to donate his organs; due to his wishes, others will benefit.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Hollandale. Fr. John Hedrick will officiate. Burial will be held in East Side Cemetery in Dodgeville with Full Military Honors. Lunch will follow at the Hollandale American Legion. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass on Saturday at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Hollandale.
Dick, you were the most generous person we have ever known. Dozens of people, without hesitation, would say you were their “best friend” and each and every one of them would be correct. If love could have saved you, you would still be with us – as it is now, you will live forever in our hearts….
