DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN

DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN 03/19/1940 - 05/22/2025 Dennis J. O'Loughlin, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at home after a long battle with cancer. Dennis was born in Clinton to Anthony J. and Mary J. (O'Malley) O'Loughlin on March 19, 1940. After graduating from Clinton High School, Dennis attended Fitchburg State University before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1959. Dennis was stationed at Truax Air Field in Madison, Wis. After serving four years, Dennis joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard in which he served for 32 years. Dennis retired as the Assistant to the Adjutant General for the State of Wisconsin and was inducted into the Wisconsin Air National Guard Hall of Fame in 2004. Dennis was a firm believer in community service and served on the Board of Directors of many nonprofit organizations and service clubs in Wisconsin and Illinois throughout the years to include, among others, the Salvation Army, Rotary Club, Madison Area Builders' Association, and the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. Dennis was also elected to the Dane County Board from 1998 to 2018, serving on many committees, as well as the Dane County Regional Airport Commission for 13 years. Dennis felt privileged to represent Dane County with the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) serving on the Board of Directors from 2002-2018, acting as President from 2008 to 2009. He also served on the National Association of Counties Board of Directors from 2012-2018, the WCA Services, Inc. Board of Directors from 2008-2025, and was a Founding Board member of the Local Government Institute from 2007-2025. Throughout his career in finance and mortgage lending, Dennis worked at various organizations in Wisconsin and Illinois and ended his career as a partner with Badger Mortgage, LLC. Dennis was proud of his Irish heritage and had the Irish love of life, strong religious belief, and sparkling sense of humor. He enjoyed meeting new people and loved to travel the countryside on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and enjoyed golfing, flower gardening, and spending time with family and friends. Dennis leaves behind his wife of 31 years Sara (Bollig), sons John (Sue) and Jim (Nalini) O'Loughlin, grandsons Bradley (Kyela) and Jacob O'Loughlin, and Johnny and Joseph Kaney; his sister Peggy (Kevin) O'Toole, brother Kevin (Maureen) O'Loughlin; and in-laws Rita (Larry) Zimmerman, Paul Bollig, Claudia Prunuske, Frank (Carol) Bollig, Mary Bollig, Ann West, Virginia (Dennis) Nelson, Tom (Barb) Bollig, Cindy (Chuck) Schwierske, Kris (Tina) Bollig, Kurt (Brenda) Bollig, Keith Bollig, and Doug (Shawn) Bollig, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Dennis is preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Mary O'Loughlin, his brother Tony, his daughter Julie Kaney, and his parents-in-law Herbert and Katherine Bollig. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025, at St. Olaf's Catholic Church, 623 Jefferson Street, DeForest, Wis. Visitation was Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ryan Funeral Home, 6924 Lake Road, DeForest. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to UW Health Carbone Cancer Center, https://give.wiscmedicine.org/give/392780/#!/donation/checkout or Agrace Hospice, https://www.agrace.org/donate/donate-today/. To view his obituary or leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.