Professor Emeritus John J. Uicker Jr.

1938 - 2023

Professor Emeritus John J. Uicker Jr.

July 11, 1938 - April 25, 2023

Professor Emeritus John J. Uicker Jr. died April 25, 2023, in Madison, WI, from lung cancer. He was born July 11, 1938, in Derry, NH, to Elizabeth (Flint) and John Uicker Sr. and was raised in Detroit, MI.

John completed his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Detroit and his master's and PhD at Northwestern University, then served two years in the Army. He taught Mechanical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison for over 40 years and founded their Computer Aided Engineering Center (CAE). His teaching and research specialties were geometric modeling and computer-aided design; including the kinematics, dynamics, and simulation of articulated rigid-body mechanical systems.

John was known nationally and internationally as a pioneering researcher on matrix methods of linkage analysis and was the first to derive the general dynamic equations of motion for rigid-body articulated mechanical systems. He created a number of design automation and modeling programs and authored several textbooks. He has been the recipient of many awards for his work, including twice for historically significant publications and three times for outstanding research publications.

He was a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), EU Academy of Sciences, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Xi, and Tau Beta Pi. He served as editor for the Mechanism and Machine Theory journal and was elected ASME Fellow in 2007.

In his retirement, John enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, including family trips. At home, puzzles and card games filled his time when he wasn't updating his textbooks.

John is survived by his children: Theresa (Chris) Zenchenko, John (Paula) Uicker, Joe Uicker, Dottie (Dean) Winger, Barbara (Mark) Peterson, and Joan (Kevin) Horne; grandchildren: Josh, Andrew, Rose, Joe, Nicoleta, Alina, and Maddie; siblings: Joe Uicker, Jim (Suzanne) Uicker, Tom Uicker, Mary Fran Uicker IHM, Liz (Nick) Cantu, and Peggy (Mike) O'Neil; and countless friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his parents, three siblings, the mother of his children, and a daughter-in-law.

Special thanks to Oak Park Madison East Assisted Living and Agrace Hospice for their excellent care. He is now at peace.

A visitation and rosary service will be held at Ramsey Funeral Home, 425 State St., Harbor Beach, MI, at 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 7, 2023. Immediate family may gather at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 8, 2023. Funeral Services will be held at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church in Harbor Beach on Monday at 11:30 a.m., followed by burial with military honors in the family plot at St. Anthony's Cemetery on Helena Rd., just one mile from the summer home he helped his parents build.

A memorial gathering will be held in the UW-Madison Mechanical Engineering building on July 11, 2023, at 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UW Foundation with the note 'Uicker Education Fund for Mechanical Engineering' and mailed to the UW Foundation, U.S. Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI, 53278-0807; or online at http://supportuw.org/giveto/UickerFund.

For online condolences visit www.ramseyfuneralhome.net.