Jerome J. "Dude" "Jerry" Wilberding

Jerome J. “Dude” “Jerry” Wilberding, 86, of Sparta, Wisconsin, formerly of Cuba City, Wisconsin, died Sunday, March 17, 2019, at his winter home in Weslaco, Texas. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2019, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Cuba City with Rev. David Flanagan officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery military honors accorded. Friends may call from 9:15-10:15 a.m. at the church before the service. Casey Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cuba City is in charge of arrangements. Jerome was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on January 18, 1933, to Carl and Nuala (Byrne) Wilberding. He graduated from Cuba City High School in 1950. Jerome joined the Navy in 1950 where he proudly served our country in the Korean Conflict in the United States Naval Construction Battalion known as "Navy Seabees". After being honorably discharged in 1954, Jerome married Kay Altenburg and started their family of four. Jerry worked 37 years at John Deere Dubuque Tractor Works, retiring in 1991. Jerry was a loyal loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an active member of the United Auto Workers Local Chapter 94 in Dubuque, Iowa, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sparta, Wisconsin, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Survivors include his loving wife of 23 years, Karen Wilberding, and their new puppy, Bailey; his sons, Steve (Dayna) Wilberding and their son, Michael (Tiffany) Wilberding, Mark (Jinni) Wilberding and his sons, Matt (Kasey) Wilberding and Ben (Janet) Wilberding, James (Julie) Wilberding and their children, Tyler, Logan, and Lexie Wilberding; his daughter, Mary (Greg) Gruel and their children, Sarah, Hunter, and Molly Gruel; stepchildren, Brenda (Mike) Lydon and their daughter, Nicole, Scott (Lynnae) Stelzer and sons, Cameron, Jordan, and Logan, Diania (Jerry) Bottomley and their sons, Josh (Angie) Bottomley and Justin Merkes, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sister, Jane Ann Gundlach; and sisters-in-law, Shirley Wilberding and Pat Wilberding. Jerome was preceded in death by his parents; his second wife, Verna Wilberding; mother of his children, Kay Beinborn; brothers, Byrne "Bing" Wilberding, Kenneth (Annabel) Wilberding and David Wilberding; sister, June (Mickey) Schmitz; and his first granddaughter, Jami Lynn Wilberding. Jerome will be fondly remembered for his smiles, laughter, jokes and as "Grandpa Dude".