JOHN F. SCHWOCHERT

John F. Schwochert, age 82, 295 Clark St., Glenbeulah, Wis., passed away early Thursday afternoon, Sept. 3, 2009, at Woodland Village at Rocky Knoll Health Care Facility in Plymouth, where he had been a resident for the last three months.

He was born on Feb. 25, 1927, in Montello (Marquette County) Wis., the eldest son of the late Frank and Nona Pahl Schwochert.

John attended Montello Grade School.

He loved to swim, fish and hunt small game in his younger years. In high school he was active in basketball and archery. During high school, he worked on his Uncle Joe’s farm and ran the projector at the Montello show house.

In his junior year, during World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was accepted into the U.S. Navy Reserves where he served aboard a destroyer tender and finished his service in Tacoma, Wash. After the war, John went back to Montello High School and graduated in 1948.

In 1949, at a dance, John met Citana Rohde. They both loved to dance and a year later they were married in Fond du Lac at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The couple resided in Fond du Lac after their marriage and for the last 44 years in Glenbeulah.

John’s work experience includes working as an apprentice electrician and joining the electrical workers brotherhood #494 as a journeyman electrician.

He was employed by several contractors, the last being Boudry Electric in Fond du Lac. For the next 15 years he worked for Weiss Implement as a television repairman, salesman and mechanic. He then became an independent licensed electrician, wiring residential homes and farms. Through many of those years, he helped his wife run the Glen Echo Nursery in Glenbeulah while running a radio and television repair shop out of his garage.

In the fall of 1968, John went north to help an old navy buddy winterize cabins for snowmobilers. He came back hooked on snowmobiling and purchased one of his own. His love for the sport took him to northern Wisconsin where he and his family built a year round retreat known as Legacy Acres. He continued to snowmobile every winter until 2009.

He was a member of the Glenbeulah Fire Department, American Legion Post #484 in Glenbeulah, St. Fridolin Catholic Church, Greenbush Kettle Moraine Trailblazer Sno-mobile Club and the Dun-good Riders of Dunbar, Wis., and a member of the Electrical Worker Brotherhood #494 of Milwaukee. He was a snowmobile safety instructor for 15 years with the Greenbush Kettle Moraine Trailblazers.

Survivors include his wife Citana of Glenbeulah; seven children, John L. Schwochert of Glenbeulah, Royal Schwochert of Milwaukee, Mark Schwochert of Plymouth, Julie (Jim) Verhage of Sheboygan, Matthew (Sheryl) Schwochert of Plymouth, Linda (Normand) Brisson of Sheboygan Falls, and Mary (John) Nelson of Fond du Lac; 14 grandchildren, Crystal, Seth, Tyler, Tammy, Tina, Jeff, Sam, Roxanne, Wade, Xandria, Barloe, Dillon, Victor, and Dakota; and six great-grandchildren; five brothers, Paul Schwochert of Montello, Dick (Katherine) Schwochert of Burlington, Ted (Helen) Schwochert of Oshkosh, Dan (Nancy) Schwochert of Milwaukee, and Ray (Dorothy) Schwochert of Spooner; one sister, Rita Campbell of California.

He is also survived by nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Ellwood (Woody) Campbell; two nephews, David Schwochert and Thomas Schwochert; and one niece, Loree Neumann

Following John’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and a gathering and visitation will take place at the Suchon Funeral Home in Plymouth from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. A memorial fund is being established in John’s name.

The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Plymouth is serving his family. For online condolences, visit www.suchonfh.com.

The family of John F. Schwochert wishes to thank the many fine health care professionals at the Aurora Medical Group and Rocky Knoll Woodland Village for making our father’s life better and longer.