Jerold “Jerry” Apps, Madison… age 91, peacefully passed away at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg after a short illness on December 23, 2025.
Jerry is one of the Midwest’s most revered writers. He devoted his life to the celebration and preservation of Wisconsin’s agricultural and rural heritage, it’s past, present and future.
Jerry was born at home on the family farm in Wild Rose, WI – a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing. He contracted polio in eighth grade. Because of the physical impact of polio, he gave up sports and became a student newspaper reporter. Writing became his lifelong passion. He left the family farm as a first-generation college student. He received a scholarship enabling him to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also participated in the Army ROTC. After graduating from UW–Madison, Jerry worked as a County Extension Agent for Green Lake and Brown Counties (1957-1962). Jerry also served in the Army Transportation Corps from 1956 to 1966 reaching the rank of Captain.
Jerry married Ruth Olson while they were both Extension agents and they were married for 63 years until the time of Ruth’s passing. They raised three children – Susie (Paul Bodilly), Steve (Natasha Kassulke) and Jeff (Sandy Sporleder).
As a parent, Jerry continued his education and earned a Ph.D. in Education and Sociology from UW–Madison. Jerry’s academic career included Publications Editor for the State 4-H Office, 1962-1964; Assistant, Associate and tenured Professor in the UW–Madison Agriculture and Extension Education Department, 1964-1974; Professor of Continuing and Vocational Education, 1974-1994; Staff Development, University of Wisconsin Extension. 1964-1974, 1982-1985; Chancellor’s Office, University of Wisconsin Extension, 1989-1993; Chair, Department of Continuing and Vocational Education, 1977-1979, 1982-1987; and Director of Kellogg funded National Leadership Development Program, 1989-1993.
Ruth and Jerry also joined Midvale Lutheran Church, where they found many dear friends and were active members in adult learning programs and social events
In 1966, Ruth and Jerry, purchased a farm, Roshara, in the Town of Rose in Waushara County near Jerry’s family homestead. They enjoyed hiking and storytelling, chopping wood for the fire in the kitchen woodstove, reading, restoring the prairie and woodlots, along with tending to – and eating and preserving fresh produce from a large garden. The farm became a muse for Jerry and his writing. He researched and wrote about the history of this land in his books.
Upon retirement, he became Professor Emeritus and started a career as a full-time historian, researcher, storyteller, and writer. Jerry wrote more than 50 fiction and nonfiction books including children’s books on topics such as barns, mills, cheese, breweries, the circus, one-room schools, along with rural history, country life, and the environment. His co-authors, editors, and photographers included his wife and other family members. Jerry won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others. In 2010, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the UW–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Science, was named a Fellow by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences Arts and Letters in 2012, and was named to the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2016, Jerry won the White Cedar Outstanding Teaching Award from The Clearing. More recently, Jerry was honored with Jerry Apps Day from the City of Madison and a certificate from the State of Wisconsin on his 90th birthday, a Joint Resolution from the Wisconsin Legislature, a Secretary Commendation from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and the 2025 National Distinguished Service Ruby Award for an Extension Professional.
A celebration of life will be held in the spring 2026. The family thanks Agrace Hospice and the Renaissance Senior Living staff for their kindness and care, especially Jamison and Pastor Jim. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to Wisconsin Public Media, The Wisconsin Historical Society, Midvale Community Lutheran Church or your local library. To learn more about Jerry’s legacy in storytelling and his commitment to his community and environmental stewardship, visit https://jerryapps.com/.