Gerald (Jerry) Charles Tempesta, 92, of Cumberland died, July 21, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. He was born November 29, 1931 in Cumberland, WI to Anthony and Grace (Benson) Tempesta.

Jerry lived in Cumberland in a close-knit extended family of Italian and Swedish heritage. Jerry was often broadcasted by his Tempesta family as the “only blonde-haired Italian” in the family. Jerry had a deep connection to the Benson family in the Barronett area, was as important to him in family upbringing and social traditions! Jerry and his family moved to NE Minneapolis where the family had a furniture business. Jerry and his brother, Tony, were known for their spirited teen years riding trolley cars to the downtown area and becoming popular for their street fighting antics led Jerry to become Golden Gloves boxer in his early teen years before they eventually moved back to Cumberland. Jerry helped his father, Anthony with their Tempesta Furniture business a few doors down from the Tempesta “Skiddie’s” Tavern. Jerry also worked at The Hines Company store hauling ice blocks from the lake to the store where he met his future sweetheart, Barbara (Barb) Hines and ironically, she trusted him enough to accept a date being picked up his Dad’s furniture truck. Jerry graduated from Cumberland High School in 1950 and then married Barb in 1952. A very short time after, Jerry was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War for 18 months. When Jerry returned from the war, he announced that he planned to be a dentist.

From there, Jerry enrolled and completed his undergraduate degree at the UW-LaCrosse and then moved on to Milwaukee for Jerry to attend Marquette University Dental School. Barb worked at a small neighborhood grocery store while Barb worked to support him in college. They would also travel back to Cumberland to work in a food stand at the Rutabaga Festival to make ends meet. Jerry graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Marquette in 1961 and shortly thereafter, said he wanted to “move back to God’s country” to Cumberland. There he opened a dental practice that he owned and operated until 1997 while Barb worked by his side as an assistant and then bookkeeper. Jerry served in general dentistry, surgery, orthodontics, and became the first licensed TMJ specialist in the area. After Jerry sold his practice, he continued to serve as a traveling dentist for the State of Wisconsin Head Start program.

Jerry was a lifelong avid hunter, fisherman, snowmobiler and Green Bay Packer fan. Jerry and Barb attended Super Bowl II in 1968 and he again with Super Bowl XXXI in 2011. Jerry and Barb were active serving the St. Anthony Church and members at the Cumberland Golf Club, In the early ‘70s Jerry developed an interest to buy a farm and raise and show Arabian horses with as many as twenty-three at one time along with many dogs and cats roaming the farm.

In between, Jerry and Barb became very active in the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce and were part of the new era of Rutabaga Festival. Jerry and local business owner Mike Perzichilli of the Spot Bar started a hot pepper eating contest in 1977 which remains a fixture at our beloved annual festival. Jerry and Barb were also named Cumberland Citizens of the Year in 2000 for their years of passion and dedication to the community. Jerry prided himself as having the biggest fireworks show on the lake to celebrate Jim’s July 4th birthday causing very large gatherings year after year! Jerry also became a pilot where he and Barb even travelled across the country to Washington, DC.

Jerry and Barb loved traveling to SW Colorado hauling their 5th wheel trailer calling out often to CB radio listeners as the “Silver Fox” with the goal of living in the mountains and visiting horses they had moved to their property.

Jerry loved spending time teaching Jim over his childhood about working on a farm, enjoying life and was always there for all the major life events with Jim and his family. Jerry loved his family very much over the years and was so excited about the birth of his first grandson, Alec, that he and Barb raced down to the hospital to meet him in the night.

In his retirement, Jerry continued his hobbies including a passion for fly fishing to all area rivers in Wisconsin that lead him to catch a rare trout in the Artic Circle. He also traveled to Colorado many times for elk hunting in Colorado.

Jerry was known as the “Silver Fox” by friends and family for his sly but congenial personality and his wisdom that he shared with those close to him. Everyone loved talking with Jerry as he was the epitome of fun, loving and caring. As a grandfather, father and paisan, Jerry will be missed dearly by many friends and family for the lasting mark he left on this earth for those to follow for years.

He is survived by his son, James Tempesta; grandchildren: Alec (Katie) Tempesta and Jillian (fiancé Levi) Tempesta; brother, Anthony Tempesta. Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann (Hines), sister, Beverly Ranallo and his parents, Anthony and Grace (Benson) Tempesta and many relatives and dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at Noon Friday, August 2, 2024, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Fr. Jayanna Kanna and Deacon Greg Ricci officiating. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery. Military honors were accorded by Anderson-Thomson Post #98 American Legion, Cumberland. Visitation will be from 10 AM - Noon at the church.

Skinner Funeral Home of Cumberland is serving the family.

Last Update: Jul 28, 2024 12:59 pm CDT