Jason Robert Williams, 52, passed away unexpectedly on May 22, 2024. 

Jason was born on August 8, 1971, in Portage, Wisconsin, to Fred and Judy Williams, joining his sister Jennifer. His family moved to Baraboo in 1979, where he attended St. John’s Lutheran School. At Baraboo High School, Jason excelled in track and field and was named “Most Valuable Runner” in 1990, his senior year. He continued his education at UW Madison. Rather than attending his college graduation ceremony on May 27, 1995, Jason married his high school sweetheart, Heidi Ritzenthaler.

The couple moved to LaCrosse where Jason earned his Masters in Biology/Nurse Anesthesia and began his career at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. Jason and Heidi welcomed their son, Connor, in 2002, and their daughter, Callista, in 2005. The family moved to South Carolina in 2006 before moving back to Wisconsin in 2008.

In Madison, Jason worked as a nurse anesthetist at UW Hospital for 15 years. During his 25+ year career, Jason’s top priority was always the safety and comfort of his patients. Outside of the hospital, his family witnessed him in action many times as he provided medical attention to people in need. Jason also participated in a medical mission trip to Honduras, where he provided anesthesia care for surgical patients.

Jason deeply loved his family. His travel highlight was joining his mother, Judy, in Africa in 2019, where his safety plan was to “be faster than the slowest person”... and he was. Jason enjoyed visiting the EAA Airventure Convention with his father, Fred. He spent time working on electronics with his son, which later inspired Connor’s future career. Jason enjoyed bike rides with his sister and patching her up when she wiped out. Jason always had the fastest car, the fastest boat, and the fastest bike, and if it wasn’t the fastest, you better believe he’d tear that thing apart looking for more power. He loved watching his daughter participate in various sports, and relived his glory days as her personal track and field coach. One of Jason’s favorite passions was fishing and hunting with his best friend, Eric (Karen) Taylor, and their children. He loved spending time with the “cat he never wanted” and any dog he encountered. Jason was known as the “baby whisperer” of Heidi’s extended family, and could put any baby to sleep in under 5 minutes.

Jason is survived by his life-long love Heidi, children Connor and Callista, parents Fred (Edie) Williams and Judy Williams, and sister, Jennifer (Mark) Rabata. He was the fun uncle to his niece and nephews, and was thought of as son, brother, nephew, and cousin to Heidi’s family. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, and his infant brother.

Private graveside services will be held for immediate family. 

A Celebration of Life for Jason will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at the West Baraboo Village Forest from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM, and the family invites those who loved him to join. Additionally, a memorial fund has been established for the education of his children at Old National Bank in Madison.

Despite his struggle with mental health in his final years, Jason knew that he was deeply loved by his family and friends. He will be remembered as a loving father, son, and brother, with a heart for helping people.