Obituaries

John J. Havel, age 86, Friendship, WI died Monday, June 9, 2025 at The Waterford in Wisconsin Rapids with his family close by until his final moment.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Friendship. Rev. David Bruener will officiate. The Knights of Columbus 4th-degree Honor Guard will preside at his funeral.

Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at St. Leo’s Catholic Cemetery with dinner to follow at St. Joseph’s Center in Adams.

John was born December 24, 1938 in Phillips, WI to Steve and Lucille (Selucky) Havel. He married Carole Marie Klein on Jan. 3, 1959 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Adams.

John met Carole at a dance in Wisconsin Rapids in 1957. Before evening’s end she said, “You don’t know it now, but you’re going to marry me someday.” And sure enough, six months later John was proposing to Carole.

John was employed by Nekoosa-Port Edwards Paper Mill and worked there four years before embarking on his career as a home builder. He and his wife collaborated to design and construct more than 90 homes in the Adams-Friendship area and around the state.

A hard worker and a quick study, John was a first-rate mason whose skills included all masonry work including laying cement blocks and creating gorgeous fireplaces. He went on to work as a certified builder for Pittsville Homes for 30 years.

John was a state-certified plumber, welder and electrician. In addition, he served as a Quincy town supervisor, health officer and an honorary Adams County deputy sheriff.

John was a devout Catholic who enjoyed giving back to the community as a 4th-degree member of the Knights. He was Grand Knight when the Adams Council received all the highest state awards despite being the smallest council in Wisconsin. He especially loved delivering food and Christmas gifts on behalf of the Knights to needy families and children in the area.

John supported the Nature Conservancy, the Salesians, and the St. Jude Missionaries, among others.

In 1956, at 18, John traveled West to embark on a grand adventure with his brother, Steve, and friend, Ronnie Pascavis. He loved telling stories of seeing the Rocky Mountains, holding a 10-foot python around his neck and detailing police cars in return for being allowed to sleep at local jails to save money.

In his late teens, John traveled with “Cousin Fuzzy and his Cousins” Polka Band working as a one-man driver, setup crew and a cue-card holder for televised events.

John’s hobbies included playing golf with his son and friends Don Rogers, Dick Lottridge and Tom Wuersberger.  John also was an animal lover ever since he was a little boy raising his 4-H calf for the fair. He had many pet dogs and cats through the years.

John, Carole and family relocated from Quincy, Wis., to Zephyrhills, Fla., for the winter of 1972, doing masonry work. The four-month stay included visits to NASA Space Center, the Everglades to see alligators and Busch Gardens.  Upon their return, John started “Havel Construction” and began his career as a home builder. John loved music and enjoyed attending many dances with his wife through the years.

John and Carole also enjoyed traveling to visit their grown children in Salt Lake City, Utah; Norman, Okla.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Boise, Idaho.  They especially loved visits with their granddaughter, Josie, and their trips to the House on the Rocks, the Rudolph Grotto and the Circus World Museum.

John is survived by his wife, Carole, and his daughter, Teresa, and son, Chris, both of Green Bay, and granddaughter, Josie Rae Ellison, of De Pere.

John is further survived by his sister, Lucy (Don) Hustedt, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Sharon Marie Mattox, a cherished mother, grandmother & great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025, at the age of 79, surrounded by her loving family at House of the Dove Hospice Center in Marshfield, WI. She was born on February 7, 1946, in Mauston, WI, to Melvin & Lorraine Cook. Sharon married Richard C. Gulas on January 7, 1967, although the union ended in divorce, their marriage was blessed with four children. She found true love and married William C. Mattox on October 11, 1986. They spent many wonderful years together traveling the United States, spending time with their family, and participating in community events.

Sharon was a lady who wore many hats in her lifetime. In addition to being a wife, homemaker, mother, grandmother and great grandmother; she spent many years working with local optometrists as an Optometry Tech, she worked with Adams County Memorial Hospital in the ER as an ER Tech, as an EMT and in the Outpatient Clinics, she was co-owner in AF Floral; and in her retirement was involved in the local chapter of Partners of Wisconsin Healthcare Association, Inc. Sharon had a deep and abiding faith in Christ and took comfort in the sure and certain hope of eternal life provided through that faith. She was a lifelong, faithful member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mauston, WI. She was very honored and thankful to be a part of the process of establishing a congregation in Adams-Friendship; from the humble beginnings at the community center, to the days at the “Purple Palace”, to the joyous move to the new church building in 2020. Sharon faithfully attended weekly services and thoroughly enjoyed worshipping God and fellowshipping with other believers.

Sharon was known for her ability to create beautiful floral arrangements, amazing birthday cakes when her children were little, and even an occasional wedding cake in her younger years. She took pride and enjoyed watching her children grow and start families of their own. Sharon could instantly make you feel at home and always hosted the family’s Sunday dinners, Packer or Badger game days, and holiday celebrations. Her home was filled with laughter & love, plenty of food, and the occasional late-night poker or dominoes game with family and friends. Sharon had an unwavering dedication to her family, rarely missing an extra-curricular school game, choral concert or band performance of her children and grandchildren who lived in town (Chris, Victoria,

Mikayla & Chase); and traveling to many ballet performances for her granddaughter Danielle. She found great joy in several hobbies; she loved traveling with her husband Bill and family to Yellowstone, the Black Hills, and Washington, DC, spending time with friends in the Northwoods seeing the beautiful fall tree colors and choosing the perfect Christmas or birthday gifts for those she loved.

Sharon is survived by her children; Lisa (Ron) Allen, Carol (Dan) Wood, David (Bobbi) Gulas and Jennnifer Gulas-Schultz; grandchildren, Danielle (Mark) Baughman, Christopher (Allexys Meyers) Collins, Victoria (Kainen Dyer) Collins, Mikayla (Cole) Trzesniak, and Chase Gulas along with 2 great-grandchildren Ezra Sasser & Harper Baughman and the newest great-grandchild Baby (Chris) Collins due in November 2025. She is also survived by her sister Carol Cook, brothers Bob (Rose) Cook & Bill (Karen) Cook, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and treasured friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin & Lorraine Cook, and her beloved husband, William C. Mattox.

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, family & friends are invited to gather for a visitation at 11:30 AM, with a Memorial Service at 12:30 PM which will be followed by a light luncheon at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 511 West Lake Street, Friendship, WI 53934. Private family graveside services will be held at Hancock Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sharon’s memory.

The family would like to thank Gundersen Moundview Hospital, Marshfield Hospital, and the wonderful and caring nursing staff at House of the Dove in Marshfield, WI, for the amazing care she received during her hospice stay, along with Roseberry’s Funeral Home.