Dr. Gerald J. Tolan

Gerry “Doc” Tolan was born September 10, 1931 in Akron Ohio but grew up and considered Green Bay Wisconsin “home.”  He passed on to the Lord on December 19, 2020 at his home in Sierra Vista, Arizona with his wife Jan at his side.

Doc led an extraordinary life.  He served in the US Army from 1952 to 1953.  Upon discharge he pursued his passion to become a physician.  He had a remarkable 50-year medical career primarily devoted to emergency and healthcare services in rural Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Many patients and friends fondly remember Doc flying his helicopter between clinics and hospitals to provide medical care.  In 2006, he was honored as the Rush City Citizen of the year.

Doc had many varied interests: fishing; hunting; golf; reading; music/singing/karaoke; history; cooking; entertaining; storytelling and travel.  He was always up for a game of golf or sharing a story or two.  He perfected the grilled Filet Mignon and the gin martini.  There was never a dull moment with Doc, he was a “people person.”

Doc was a world traveler; there was never a historical site he didn’t want to see.  He visited the Civil War battlefields, the Normandy beaches and Europe, the Pyramids, Israel, Russia and Ireland.  He looked forward to his annual fishing trips with his sons to Canada.

God and family were everything to Doc.  He was especially proud and close with his seven children.  He will always be remembered by his family, friends and patients. 

Doc was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Mildred Tolan, his brothers Frank and Thomas (Red), his sister Mary Ann and an infant son.

Doc is survived by his wife Jan, his children: Lisa; Catherine (Morley); Christopher (Diane); Daniel (Susan); Gerald Joseph Jr. (Katie); Sarah (Rich); their mother Bernadette; Stephan and his mother Dorie.  Stepchildren: Allison and Jonathan.  Grandchildren: Brad Rasmussen; Ben and Abby Sobol; McKenzie, Claire and Grace Tolan; Taylor Horsager, Gerald Joseph III and Anna Tolan; Thomas Jerald Richmond; Alec and Erica Clouse; Amelia and Payton Brokaw and Estelle Zedan.  Great-Grandchildren: Braiden; Beckett and Branton Rasmussen.  And his brother Patrick Tolan.

Due to Covid-19, a private family Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Frederic, Wisconsin.  He will be laid to rest at St. Dominic’s Catholic Cemetery in Frederic, Wisconsin. 

Pallbearers will be his sons, Christopher Tolan, Daniel Tolan, Gerald Joseph Tolan Junior and Stephan Tolan and his grandsons,  Brad Rasmussen and Gerald Joseph Tolan III.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements

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