A former UW-Richland professor and community volunteer has died
Jan 12, 2026, 9:55 AM CST
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A former UW-Richland professor and community volunteer has died. Jerry Bower, 87 of Richland Center, died Friday (January 9) at SSM Health Hospital in Madison. Jerry was born in Chicago, Illinois.
He graduated from Merrill High School in 1956, received his Bachelor’s Degree from University of Stevens Point and his Master’s and PhD from Michigan State University in History. Jerry taught for three years at Port Huron Junior College before becoming UW Richland’s first history professor. He taught at UW Richland from 1967 when it opened until his retirement in 2008.
He was also a member of the Richland Area Community Food Pantry since 1999, serving as president for many years, and was the president of the Richland County Historical Society for over 30 years.
Funeral services for Jerry Bower will be held Saturday (January 17) at 1:00 pm at the Richland Center United Methodist Church.
Full obituary located HERE.
Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.
Jo Ann Krulatz is Senior Radio Journalist and News Director at WRCO and WRCE in Richland Center. Email her at joann.krulatz@civicmedia.us.
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