Chitwood, Theodore Dale

Theodore Dale Chitwood, age 75, of Dodgeville, WI passed away on Tuesday May 21, 2024. After a short battle with glioblastoma, Ted’s final hours were spent surrounded by his loving family at the Agrace Hospice Center in Fitchburg, WI.

Born in Boscobel, WI on November 18, 1948 to Keith G and Ruby E Chitwood, Ted spent his childhood growing up on the Richland County family farm north of Blue River, WI. While a student at Blue River High School he participated in football, wrestling, band, chorus and Future Farmers of America. After graduating in 1966, Ted attended UW-Platteville where he received a degree in Biology with a minor in Physical Education. While there, he participated in college life as a member of the wrestling team, a Resident Assistant in Wilgus Hall, as well as a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. He then received a Master’s degree in Physical Education from Winona State University.

While at UW-Platteville Ted met the love of his life Ronda. They started dating three weeks after meeting in the fall of 1969, and they married in 1973. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July of 2023.

His first teaching job was his last, as Ted was hired by the Dodgeville School District in 1970 and worked as a middle school Physical Education and Health teacher there for 34 years before retiring. During his tenure he mainly coached middle school track and field and middle school wrestling, and actually started Dodgeville Middle School’s wrestling program. He was an unparalleled advocate of youth athletic programs of all kinds, and was constantly encouraging students to find activities to participate in - no matter their talent level. Ted also helped initiate the Iowa County Soccer Program that would go on to extend into many high school programs in the SWAL.

As a Dodgeville community member, Ted kept busy by attending any and all sporting and community events; it didn’t matter what the event was, he was often the first on site, ready to help set up, as well as the last to head home after the last chair was put away (and we mean the VERY. LAST. CHAIR).

Ted highly enjoyed his time working and mentoring with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Learn to Hunt program; he was thrilled when one of his mentees - young and old alike - acquired gains in their hunting skills, especially when they got a bird.

One of Ted’s part-time endeavors included painting dozens - if not hundreds - of houses and rooms in the Dodgeville area. He painted so many homes in Dodgeville that when he couldn't fall asleep at night, he would mentally count them as if they were sheep.

In retirement, Ted remained a fixture of the Dodgeville sports community by volunteering his time at wrestling matches, track meets, etc. where he continually found joy in watching kids work hard, gain success and learn from challenges. He was a member of the Dodgeville Mat Club, the Dodgeville High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, and spent a number of years on the Dodgeville City Parks and Rec Department Committee as both a member and a co-chair.

If you knew Ted, then you know that his most favorite pastimes were bow and gun hunting for deer and turkey, being outdoors on the family’s woodlots in Richwood Township, chatting (lots of chatting) with friends and neighbors, consuming chocolate malts, and spending time with his granddaughters - watching their dance and piano performances, going on family outings in Denver, and re-painting their bedrooms - sometimes even with their help! One of his greatest joys was watching them grow and thrive.

Ted is survived by his wife Ronda (Roethlisberger), daughter Kara (Daniel Searing), son Kyle, granddaughters Olivia and Emerson Searing; brother James (Kay) of Oshkosh, brother-in-law Larry Kent of Fond du Lac; his Chitwood nephews Matthew (Heidi), David (Annie), Stephen (Katie); his Kent nieces Tara (Jake), Lindsey (Adam) Nelson and Kelly; and many close Chitwood and Anderson cousins, including his “favorite brother” Eddie (Linda) Chitwood. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Nancy Reddington (Roger) and Linda Roethlisberger (Dennis Hennessey), nephew Mark Fry, and over 20 additional nieces and nephews through Ronda’s side of the family. Ted was preceded in death by his parents, sister Susan (Suzi) Rae Kent and close cousin Gary Dale.

A public visitation will be held on Friday May 31, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville, WI. A private burial is planned, and a public celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Ted Chitwood Wrestling Scholarship; Dodgeville Area Scholarship Foundation Inc (DASFI); The local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation or Dodgeville Parks and Recreation Department.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com