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John Gilbert Whitteberry, age 91, passed from his earthly life to his heavenly life on Monday, July 22, 2024 in Mauston, Wisconsin.  He leaves behind a legacy of humor, strength, love, and a creative mindset to his family, community, and all those he encountered. 

He was born on March 5, 1933 in Lafayette, Indiana to Lawrence Benjamin and Faye Marie (Fetterhoff) Whitteberry.  He married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Almeda Conner of Fort Wayne, Indiana on October 11, 1953 and they enjoyed 65 beautiful years of marriage together.  John and Mary had six children:  Joan (David) Jarvis of Houston, Texas; John Douglas (Carrie) Whitteberry of Dallas, Texas; Deborah (Jim) Wilson of Graham, North Carolina; Timothy (Joao) Whitteberry of Paraiba, Brazil; David (Ronie) Whitteberry of Cedar City, Utah; and Sandra (Mark) Kallian of Mauston, Wisconsin. 

John was active from his youth in the church and was a long time member and an integral part of the leadership at the Mauston Church of the Nazarene.  He served many years as Chairman of the Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Trustee, and Adult Sunday School teacher. Faith and time spent with God in the Word every morning was an essential part of his Christian Walk. 

John served in the Navy Seabees, Petty Officer 1st Class for six years, primarily stationed in the Philippines during the Korean War.  Both international and domestic travel continued to be an important part of his life while raising a family of six children. 

As a well-loved 6th grade teacher in the Mauston School District, John taught for 30 years, including time spent as a negotiator with the teacher’s labor union.  Previous students often greeted him with affection on the streets right up until the time of his passing. 

John was a creative provider for his family, teaching his children a strong work ethic.  They remember fondly and not so fondly many daily hours of chores as they helped grow and sell acres of cucumbers, muskmelon, sweet corn, and other crops on his 190-acre farm.  His children “enjoyed” chasing pigs, raising chickens, milking cows, riding horses, and a myriad of other animals and chores. John also established and built an efficient firewood business, cutting, drying and delivering 250 facecord to Chicago each year, powered by family muscle and a wood-splitter of his own creation.

After Mary’s passing, and at the age of 89, John sprightly walked down the aisle, to the delight of his children and church community, to join hands in marriage with Karon Jean Smyth of Frankfort, Kentucky.  Both John and Karon felt that God was the Architect that brought them together.  Their youth-like romantic union of over two years elated everyone around them.  

He is survived by his wife, Karon, his six children, eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, and sister-in-law, MaryEllen Whitteberry.  He was preceeded in death by his parents, his first wife, Mary and his siblings: Paul Whitteberry, Irene Hasenleder, David Whitteberry, and James Whitteberry.  

A Celebration of Life was  held on Saturday, July 27 ^th at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Mauston, Wisconsin, officiated by Pastor Michael Postell. 

Mary Ann Jones, 99, of Friendship, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Villa Pines Living Center in Friendship, Wisconsin, after a brief illness.

As per Mary Ann’s wishes, she will be cremated, and her ashes will be interred next to her husband Bill at Northwoods National Cemetery in Harshaw, Wisconsin.

Mary Ann was born on July 4, 1925, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to Harry Foss and Margaret Behan. She grew up in Waukesha and graduated from high school there. A proud veteran of WWII, Mary Ann served in the Marine Corps in Washington D.C., doing payroll for the soldiers until the War ended. On April 10, 1948, she married William O. Jones in Waukesha. The family lived in Waukesha before locating to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in the 1950’s. They raised their 7 children there and then when the children were all in school she began working at Sears Department Store in the catalog department. Upon their retirement, they first moved to Florida, but eventually returned to Wisconsin and settled in Rhinelander, where they enjoyed many years of retirement. They shared 64 years together, till Bill’s passing in 2012. Shortly afterward, Mary Ann moved to Friendship where she had her own apartment until poor health led to her moving to Villa Pines Living Center.

Mary Ann was an excellent seamstress and an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Brewers. She and Bill became Packers season ticket holders after Bill won the tickets in a raffle and the family still holds the tickets today. Mary Ann often talked of attending the Ice Bowl in 1967.

Mary Ann was also a valued member of the Rhinelander VFW.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Margaret; her husband, Bill; her sons, Bobby, Michael and Tommy; her son-in-law, Todd; her daughter-in-law, Judy; her four brothers: Bob, Dick, Jack and Terry; sisters-in-law, Ginny, Marge, Marian, Pat, and Harriet; mother-in- law, Isabelle; father-in-law, Lloyd; and brother-in-law, Johnny.

She is survived by her daughter, Patty (Greg) Kobs; her sons, Dan Jones and Peter (Leigh) Jones; her daughter, Peggy (Scott) Tomczyk and her daughter-in-law, Mary Jones. Her grandchildren, Isabela (Derek) Fagen, Alex Kobs, Andy Jones, Kristin Jones, Arrin (Adam) Richter, Sarah (Paul) Selin, Jacie Jones, Jenna, Ross (DeLaney) Tomczyk, Ali (Mike) Shaw, Gary Wood, and Lynn Kutz. Her great-grandchildren, Eileen Tomczyk, James Tomczyk, Everly Richter, Eloise Richter, Charlie Richter, Makia Shaw and new baby Shaw, William Selin, Victor Wood, Maggie Wood, and Lee Kutz. Her sisters-in-law, Sue Foss and Barbara Foss and many nieces and nephews.

The family will gather at a later date at Northwoods National Cemetery in Harshaw, Wisconsin, where her ashes will be interred with military honors.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at Villa Pines Living Center for the wonderful care that Mary Ann was given. During her last years there she often referred to everyone at Villa Pines as her “family.” Many of the staff called her “Grandma” and they made her 99th birthday on this past July 4th a special time for her.