Jerome Allen “Junior” Theis, age 73, a lifelong resident of Ellsworth, Wis., passed away on July 6, 2024, of natural causes. Born on Jan. 17, 1951, at St. John’s Hospital in Red Wing, Minn., Jerome was the son of Jerome August and Loretta (Doty) Theis. Raised in Ellsworth, he attended elementary and high school there, where he received the nickname “Wamo.” From an early age, Jerome worked with his father on the family farmstead, learning the value of hard work and a good work ethic, which he later passed on to his own family when he purchased the farmstead himself.
On Oct. 19, 1971, Jerome married Nancy Dopkins at Saint Bridget Catholic Church in River Falls. Together, they had four children: Troy, Amy, Travis, and Dawn. Although Jerome worked diligently on the farm, his true passion was driving truck. For 35 years, he navigated the roads through several ownership changes, from Millbank Freightways to, more recently, Dedicated Logistics. He loved the peacefulness of a quiet drive and delivered loads throughout the Midwest, always with a smile when one of his kids joined him for a run. As a proud member of the Union, Local 120, he was always ready to hit the road.
If he wasn’t behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler, Jerome could be found cruising around the countryside on his four-wheel Ranger. He delighted in checking his property and his neighbors’ lands to ensure everything was in order. It felt like Christmas when laws opened up access to four-wheelers on country roads. Jerome and his friends would hit the roads and meet at local establishments for lunch, sharing laughs and camaraderie.
Jerome’s love for the outdoors was boundless. Whether checking fence lines, driving tractor, cutting wood for his outdoor boiler, or lighting up the night sky with fireworks after a trip to the store, he found joy in every moment. Sundays were reserved for his devotion to the green and gold – a loyal Packers fan through the eras of Favre, Rodgers, and now Love. Many will fondly remember Jerome’s optimistic point of view. He was an eternal optimist, always seeing the glass as half full, and he made it his mission to uplift those around him. With his teasing and jokes, he loved to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Jerome will live on in the hearts of his sons, Troy Theis of Ellsworth and Travis Theis of Glenwood City; grandchildren Tucker, Taytum, and Bailey; siblings Joan (Skeet) Hague of Ellsworth, Jeri O’Connor of River Falls, Jackie Schaar of River Falls, and Jolene (Glenn) Moldenhauer of Ellsworth; as well as several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law Roger O’Connor and Bob Schaar, his infant daughter Dawn, and his beloved daughter Amy Theis, who was tragically taken from this world in 2023.
A Celebration of Life for Jerome Theis will be held on Saturday, July 27, from 5 p.m. to dusk at Jerome’s Farmstead, W6601 450th Ave., rural Ellsworth. The evening will be shaped by stories, memories, and fireworks. Interment will be at a later date in the Clayfield Cemetery. Memorials are preferred at the discretion of the family.
Services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth. For more information, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-273-4421.
