R. Gordon Goodrum

October 22, 1930 - April 19, 2020

Richard Gordon Goodrum was born in Mayfield, KS October 22, 1930, a middle child in a large and close-knit family. He passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2020 at age 89. He served in the US Air Force 1950-1955. While a student at the University of Kansas he had the good fortune to share a textbook with a lovely young woman, Sharon. Their marriage lasted almost 62 years. He earned a PhD in European History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1969. During his professional career he served as faculty member and Acting Dean at University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan and UW-West Bend, and Acting Dean as well as Associate Dean at UW-Waukesha. He retired as Professor Emeritus from UW-Waukesha in 1994. He and Sharon shared a love of music. They sang in their church choir and in the Waukesha Choral Union for many years. He often relaxed after work by playing the piano. He spent many a happy hour researching and writing a family genealogy. He leaves his beloved wife Sharon, two children Margaret (Paul Jones) and John (Kerri Carr Goodrum) and his prized granddaughter Leila, as well as siblings and an extended family who will miss his gentle, witty self terribly. The family would like to extend sincerest gratitude to Avalon Square in Waukesha and Rainbow Hospice Care in Johnson Creek for the special care they took of Gordon. Gordon will be interred in the family plot in Township Cemetery in Mayfield, Kansas. Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to First United Methodist Church in Waukesha or the UW-Madison History Department.