John "Jack" Wisneski

“When you die you always want to make sure you left this earth better than when you started.”  Those were words our father lived by.

John was born in Nekoosa, WI on June 12, 1923, son of the late Joseph and Marie Wisneski.  He passed away on November 6, 2021 to meet his Savior in Heaven.

John was raised during the Great Depression.  Due to a family tragedy, he spent much of his childhood at St. Joseph Orphanage in Green Bay.   Some of his memories he shared with us from the orphanage were very special to him, other memories would bring tears to his eyes.

In those days farmers would come to the orphanage for boys to stay with them and help on their farms.  John was eager as a teenager to go to high school so he agreed to go to a farm that would let him attend school.  Dyke and Hat Vande Wettering from Freedom provided that opportunity. He held their friendship and kindness until their passing. During high school he met the love of his life (Alrita Van Dyke) and knew he was someday going to marry her.

After graduating from Freedom High School in 1942, John went on to Vocational school for welding and got a job working for Manitowoc Ship Co. building submarines.  He later went to Detroit to work for the Ford Motor Co. welding tanks.  The war was on during this time and John received a letter from the President of the United States drafting him.  John served our country in the Navy (Yeoman Second Class) from 1943 to 1946.

John and Alrita were married on October 17, 1946.  They went on to have 10 children. John farmed and worked for Fox Tractor for 27 years as a welder.  At the age of 62 he retired from Fox Tractor and started the second phase of his life.  He always loved the earth.  Tilling and harvesting the produce, planting and selling trees and shrubs were his passion.  He started The Nursery Tree Farm and lived out that passion for the next 28 years selling thousands of trees and shrubs.  He was very social (if you went to the Nursery you would know!) and had many friends over the years. John and Alrita traveled all over the world with their friends visiting Mexico, Spain, Holland, China, Israel and most of the U.S. 

He was an active member of the Freedom VFW Post 7692 and was treated with great respect when he was able to attend their meetings.   John was proud of his service and was so very proud of the Old Glory Honor Flight that he was able to go on.  He was an involved parishioner and past trustee at St. Nicholas Church in Freedom. He was a strong supporter of the early days of the Freedom Fire Dept.  He loved his Church, family, and sports.  He always made time to attend his kids and grandkids sporting events.  He was thrilled his beloved Chicago Cubs won the World Series.  He never missed a Brewers, Cubs, or a Packer game on TV.  

John is survived by his children:  Richard (Nancy) Wisneski, Tony (Betsy) Wisneski, Kathy (Bill) Sellen, David (Barb) Wisneski, Gary (Jane) Wisneski, Dan (Linda) Wisneski, Randy (Sandy) Wisneski, Tom (Mary) Wisneski, Jeanne (Kevin) Doxtator, and Michael (Hilda) Wisneski.  He is also survived by 33 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Alrita, Katie Jo Wisneski (granddaughter), Alan Joseph Wisneski (grandson), and Maggie Vanden Bloomer (great granddaughter).  Also preceding him were his 10 brothers and sisters and Alrita's 7 brothers and sisters. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at the Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home FREEDOM LOCATION, N3972 Columbia Ave. from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church, W2037 County Road S, Freedom, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at 11:00 a.m. For those wishing to view the service online, it may be seen at 11:00 a.m. at the following site: https://www.tinyurl.com/stnicholasfreedom  Interment will be in Saint Nicholas Cemetery. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

Special thanks to the staff at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Seymour for their years of loving and gentle service to our dad and our family, and to the Angels at Unity Hospice your kindness will never be forgotten.

Dad, thank you for teaching us the value of a dollar (Is it a want or a need?), how we are to leave this world, and loving us all unconditionally.  Mom is ready for you to come home to Heaven!

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.