Jon Cary Gilmore

Jon C. Gilmore, 86, of Germantown, WI, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on November 14, 2025.
Jon was born on November 7, 1939, in Mason City, IA, to Marion and Genevieve Gilmore. Their family moved to Whitefish Bay, WI, when Jon was 14 years old. Jon graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1958. After graduating, Jon spent one year in college, then enlisted in the US Army where he served from 1959 to 1962 as a Senior Still Photographer for the 7th Division, reaching the rank of Specialist 5 and earning a Soldier of the Month commendation and Army Good Conduct Medal. After discharge, Jon spent an additional three years in the Army Reserve.
Following Jon's active duty, he enrolled at UW-Milwaukee where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education. Jon taught in the Glendale-River Hills school district from 1965 until 2000, primarily as a science teacher at Glen Hills Middle School. As a teacher, he was a team leader, a representative for the teachers' union, and spent many years as the chief negotiator.
It was at UWM that Jon also met Nancy. They married in 1965 and had two children, Kristin and Darren.
Jon enjoyed many hobbies including woodworking, HAM Radio (KB9RHZ), driving throughout WI in his Corvette dream car, and attending the symphony and the theater. He was a curious lifelong learner of science, technology, nature, and history. He enjoyed following the weather, flying kites, and watching birds at his many backyard feeders. He traveled throughout the US and Europe with Nancy, his family, and treasured friends. Jon always enjoyed a good brunch. He avidly followed the Packers and the Badgers and thrilled at multiple trips to the Rose Bowl. Favorite times included taking his grandkids to Grandparents University at UW-Madison.
Jon shared his skills and interests as a volunteer with the Ozaukee Amateur Radio Emergency Service (OZARES) and as the Southeast Wisconsin Amateur Radio Coordinator. He was also a weekly volunteer for many years with the Washington County Humane Society.
Most of all, Jon loved spending time with his family who will miss him more than words can express. Jon is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy (Lewandowski), and his daughter Kristin, son-in-law Scott, and grandson Beckett Kohn of California. He is predeceased by his son Darren and is survived by his daughter-in-law Asha Gilmore and grandchildren Jurrien, Quentin, and Nola of Mount Horeb. Jon is predeceased by his brother-in-law Don Lewandowski and is survived by Don's wife Catherine. Jon is also survived by brother-in-law James Lewandowski and wife Terry and other family and friends.
A celebration of Jon's life will be held at Shully's Thien Room, 146 Green Bay Road, Thiensville, on Sunday, November 30th, with a service at 1:30 and visitation from 2:00 to 4:00. Jon will be interred with full military honors at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI, on Tuesday, December 2nd at 2:00 p.m. Please contact Harder Funeral Home for details for attending the interment.
The family requests that any memorials be sent to organizations that were important to Jon and bring a little joy to the world, including the Washington County Humane Society https://secure.qgiv.com/for/azqr5e/,Grandparents University at UW-Madison, the Milwaukee County Zoo https://www.zoosociety.org/support/help-the-society/memorials-tributes/, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra https://www.mso.org/support/ways_to_give/