Jerry Stalcup

Jerry N. Stalcup, 86, of Rockford passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2025. He was born in Rockford, the son of Oscar Donald and Jennie Fern (Newell) Stalcup. Jerry graduated from Rockford East high school in 1956 and from the University of Wisconsin. He married his childhood sweetheart, Donna Laurine Rapp on November 27, 1959 in Rockford. Jerry played football at Wisconsin where he was nicknamed "Sparky" for his passion, positivity and enthusiasm with which he approached everything throughout his life.

In his senior year, he captained and was voted team MVP, of the Badgers' Big 10 champion Rose Bowl team. Jerry was drafted by the LA Rams where he played one season and then played for the Denver Broncos for two more seasons then retired from professional football. Jerry was inducted into the Rockford Public School Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2018.

After his Pro Football career, he returned to Rockford where he sold insurance and advertising before beginning his teaching and coaching career at Rockford East. He taught Driver's Education and coached JV baseball and was the defensive coordinator at East where the football teams won numerous conference championships and a state championship in 1974.

While at East, Jerry also coached the Rockford Rams football team, winning a semipro national championship.

In 1975, Jerry moved to Harlem High School to teach PE and Driver's Education and to be the head football coach for 13 seasons. Years later he was an assistant football coach in 1997 & 1998 and retired from teaching at Harlem in 1999.

Jerry's adventurous spirit drove him & Donna to each of the contiguous 48 states, Alaska and most Canadian provinces camping in their Volkswagen Vanagon "Gus the Bus." They also loved spending special times at Donna's family cottage in Wisconsin, spending winters in Nokomis, FL and attending Badger football games.

Jerry also thoroughly enjoyed numerous fishing trips and snow skiing trips with family and tremendous lifelong friends. Jerry touched countless lives and was so loved by family, friends, teammates, colleagues, students, and all who knew him.

Jerry is survived by children Todd (Lynn) Stalcup, and Lauri (Gordon) Tormohlen; grandchildren Barrick (Alison) Tormohlen, Karina (Keaton) Korosec, Bret and Liza Stalcup; great grandchild Luca Korosec, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Jerry was predeceased by his parents, his wife of 58 years, Donna and his brother, Craig.

The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the Bickford House staff and Northern Illinois Hospice for their loving care of Jerry.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church, 925 5th Ave., Rockford. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m on Friday, October 24, 2025 and from 10:00 to 10:45 am prior to the service at Zion Lutheran Church. Burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. Memorials may be made to The Jerry Stalcup Memorial Fund. To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.olsonfh.com .