Gary John “Cotton” Dobbs, age 77, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026, at Oakwood Health and Rehab in Madison, WI.  He was born on October 30, 1948, in Antigo, WI, to Ernest and Frances (Jankowski) Dobbs.
Gary was a 1967 graduate of Antigo High School, where he met the love of his life, Mary Schultz.  They were married on June 26, 1971, beginning a 55-year partnership filled with family, friendship, sports, adventures, and plenty of laughter.  Gary graduated from UW Oshkosh in 1971 with a degree in social work.  He went on to serve six years in the Army National Guard and was a proud member of the American Legion.
Gary dedicated 33 years of his career to the State of Wisconsin, Department of Workforce Development, retiring in 2003. Most of those years were spent as an Unemployment Compensation Analyst and Interstate Benefits Supervisor, followed later by work in Youth Apprenticeship. His career reflected something that came naturally to him: helping people find their way forward.
Sports were a huge part of Gary’s life.  As a young man, he was a talented little league shortstop whose team came within one game of making it to nationals.  He never really stopped playing, competing, or coaching.  Throughout his life, Gary coached all four of his children and hundreds of local kids in soccer, basketball, little league, and softball. He was named Coach of the Year in both the girls’ and boys’ youth soccer leagues.
Gary and Mary also loved playing sports together and competed in co-ed volleyball, softball, and bowling leagues.  Whether he was coaching from the sidelines, playing on the field, or cheering on his family, Gary loved being part of the action.  He also enjoyed camping, fishing, boating, and hunting pretty much anything that gave him a reason to be outdoors, preferably with family or friends nearby.
Gary believed in giving back to his community, especially when it involved helping kids.  He was active with the Mendota School PTA and regularly gave his time after school and on weekends to create opportunities for children.  He played an important role in helping establish community programs, helping develop the youth apprenticeship program for the State of Wisconsin, participating in the Madison division of Gilda’s Club, and local sports leagues.  Gary didn’t just talk about helping people he showed up, rolled up his sleeves, and got involved.  He will be remembered for his generosity, dependability, and genuine desire to help those in need.
But above all else, Gary was a family man.  He cherished time with Mary, his children, and especially his four grandchildren, for whom he and Mary proudly ran “Grandpa Daycare.” Gary could turn just about anything into a game, and his ideas were not always what you would call conventional.   On a rainy day, he thought Hide-and-Go-Seek with nightcrawlers in the garage sounded like a perfectly reasonable activity.  On hikes, he would secretly bring deer antlers along and plant them in the woods for the kids to “discover.”  And if a scavenger hunt was in order, you could count on Gary to have a treasure map ready.   He was always scheming up the next game, challenge, or adventure, and the grandchildren never quite knew what Grandpa would come up with next.  Grandpa Daycare was rarely quiet, never boring, and almost certainly involved something the kids would never forget. Gary’s sense of humor, imagination, and love of fun filled his grandchildren’s childhoods with laughter, adventure, and stories they will be telling for years to come.
Gary is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Dobbs; children, Liz (Andy Noel) Dobbs, Tim Dobbs, Suzanne Dobbs, and Michael (Mary Grace) Dobbs; grandchildren, Korin Dobbs, Mya Dobbs-McHale, Jackson Dobbs-Noel, and Izzy Dobbs-Noel; siblings, Emily McFadden, Don (Martha) Dobbs, and Jim (Dale) Dobbs; in-laws, Jackie Hackbarth, Pat Gray, Don (Cody) Schultz, and Pam Calhoun; and numerous nieces and nephews on both sides.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Louise (Norm) Schroeder, Mary (Ray) Kilzer, and Mark Dobbs; and in-laws, Sandra Youngquist, Bill Schultz, and Karen (Dave) Stickney.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Gary’s favorite doctors, who became friends along the way, Dr. Chris Fletcher and Dr. David Rakel; the dedicated teams at the Carbone Cancer Center and UW Hospital; and the compassionate teams at Oakwood Prairie Ridge Rehab and Agrace Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison.  Visitation will be held from 10:30–11:30 a.m. and again from 12:30–1:30 p.m.  Following the visitation, all are invited to join the family for a time of remembrance at 1:30 p.m., followed by a luncheon at 2:00 p.m. at the church.
For more information or to leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.
Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services
2418 N. Sherman Avenue
608-249-8257

Gary "Cotton" Dobbs

October 30, 1948 - August 28, 2026

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