03/16/2026
Jack Raymond Barager (age 73) of Tucson, AZ, entered his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, January 19, 2026. Jack loved life and was a fun person to be around. His good nature, gregarious smile and quick wit brought smiles to those enjoying his company.
Born May 10, 1952, he joined his surviving siblings, Jean Barager of Oneida, WI, Jim (and Teena) Barager of Colorado Springs, CO, and Barb (and Dennis) Tweedale of Madison, WI at their home in Owen, Wisconsin with parents (now deceased) Jim (JR) and Virginia (Berg) Barager. The Barager family enjoyed their summers together at their cottage on Round Lake near New Auburn, WI playing outdoors, fishing, boating, swimming and playing cards like “snap” or “canasta” on rainy days. Those close family ties have lasted throughout the years.
Jack excelled in athletics at Owen-Withee HS earning all-conference honors in football, basketball and golf. While in high school he became the club champion at the Meadowview Country Club and earned the right to play a couple times in the invitational golf tournament hosted by Channel 7 in Wausau, WI. He received a football scholarship to play for legendary coach, Ron Erhardt, at North Dakota St University in 1970. After winning the Div II national championship in 1970, he transferred to the University of Wisconsin and was on the football team when Jack was a passenger in a terrible car accident in which he received burns to about 2/3 of his body. The Owen-Withee community was very supportable of Jack in fund raising – “We Back Jack” bumper stickers were seen everywhere. After an extensive recovery period, Jack went back to UW Wisconsin and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1975. While he was at UW-Wisconsin he pledged to the fraternity Theta Chi and ended up forming a tight-knit group known as the “Nutty Buddies”. Even after graduation, the whole crew would still get together for every home Badger game for tailgating and good times, a total tradition.
Jack was united in marriage to Margaret (Peggy) Gruver in 1980, and they had three sons, Jake (fiancée Morgan), Luke, and Mike. As their family’s structure changed over time, Jack and Peggy remained united in what mattered most—raising their boys with love and consistency.
Jack made his home in Germantown, Wisconsin, choosing to stay closely involved and fully engaged in his sons’ lives. He dedicated himself to the time he shared with them and never missed a sporting event—football, baseball, wrestling, or anything else that mattered to his boys. His presence extended beyond his own family; many of his sons’ close friends grew up feeling welcomed, encouraged, and supported by Jack, drawn to his warmth, humor, and steady influence. So much so, that many of them affectionately called him “Red,” after Red on That ’70s Show—a nickname that stuck with him for life.
Some of the most cherished memories are tied to deer season, when Jack would take his sons to the North Woods to hunt alongside his lifelong friends. Deer camp at Moose River Rendezvous remains a special place—filled with tradition, laughter, storytelling, and friendships that span decades. Those trips created bonds and memories that will be treasured forever, and Jack’s presence will always be felt there.
Jack had a special love for his nephew and nieces, always taking a genuine interest in their lives and making each one feel valued. At the cottage on Round Lake Jack was at his brightest. He shared his deep love, guidance, and genuine heart with his nieces and nephew in ways that will endure forever through laughter and his hilarious life stories.
Jack brought laughter, energy, and fun. His outgoing, personable nature and sincere love for people made him an exceptional salesman and, more importantly, a genuinely good man.
In 2005, after his mother passed away and his sons were all in college, Jack pursued a new sales opportunity in Tucson, Arizona. He embraced this new chapter of life and thrived there, building a strong circle of work friends. His strongest friendships, however, were with fellow Wisconsin friends who had also moved to Tucson for sun and golf. Much of his free time was spent golfing with his good buddies and enjoying afternoons by the pool in the Tucson heat.
In his later years, Jack found great joy in his church home at Christian Faith Fellowship in Tucson, where he formed meaningful friendships and grew even closer in his walk with Christ. Though he had always been a believer, this season reflected a renewed dedication to his faith, including being baptized again. Through every challenge he faced, Jack met life with strength, gratitude, and resilience. He rarely complained, choosing instead to live by the words he often shared: “Life is good,” and “Value every day, because it could be your last.”
Jack faced adversity with quiet courage, meeting each day as it came and continuing to find ways to smile, encourage others, and be a light to those around him. His legacy lives on through the love he gave, the joy he brought into every room, and the lasting impact he made on his family and friends.
A celebration of life is planned for March 21st at the Meadowview Golf Course. Arrivals can begin at 1:30pm with the service beginning at 2:30pm.
