Jay R. Wolfenden, age 75, of the town of Hillsboro, Vernon County, WI passed away peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 22, 2025 at Emplify Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hillsboro. Jay was born on Aug. 23, 1949 in Milwaukee to Roy C. Wolfenden and Lois (Zernia) Wolfenden. He graduated from Royall High School ((Elroy, WI) in 1967, University of Wisconsin—Madison in 1971, and University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1975. He married Carol Klema of the town of Eastman, WI on April 9, 1983 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hillsboro, WI. They had two daughters, Beth (1985) and Emily (1993).
Jay had a solo private dental practice in Hillsboro for over 45 years until cancer forced him, reluctantly, to close it. He was the longest-serving healthcare practitioner in the city. His practice included a high percentage of underserved and unwanted patients that were ignored and underfunded by the State of Wisconsin (Badger Care). Jay was informed for several years that he was the highest Badger Care dental provider in Wisconsin.
He enjoyed adventure travel, hunting in 13 states and 22 foreign countries on 6 continents.
He is survived by his wife Carol; daughter Beth (Benito) Huesca and grandsons Jackson and Alexander of Evansville, WI; daughter Emily (Paulo) Miro and grandson Lenn of Salt Lake City, Utah; his sister Janet Hall of Elroy; sisters-in law Mary Maffei of Ewing, NJ and Alice (Robert) Lembach of Rochester, MN; nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy & Lois Wolfenden, and his in-laws, Charles & Rosemary Klema.
“I am not really gone.
Whenever you remember anything I ever said to you or did for you,
And you smile, I am with you.
When you hear the turkeys in the spring or the swans flying over in the late fall,
I am with them.
When a warm sunbeam falls on you on a winter day,
I am there.
When a cool breeze caresses your face on a hot summer evening,
That will be me.
I am not really gone.”
A time of visitation will be Friday, August 29, 2025 at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service.
For online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com
