Obit: Cole, John H. (1928 - 2012)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Chamberlain, Cole, Goltz, Hane, Klingelschmitt, Kowalski, Lombardo, McSweeney, Mydlowski, Peterson, Sawvell, Willger

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 06/21/2012

Cole, John H. (16 DEC 1928 - 19 JUN 2012)

John H. Cole, 83, Medford, died on Tuesday, June 19 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where he had been a patient the past 19 days.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 23 at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, with Father Gerard Willger officiating. Burial will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Medford. Pallbearers will be Capt. Ryan Goltz, Dean, Brian and Elizabeth Sawvell, Kevin and Kelsey Cole and Emily Mydlowski.

Visitation will be at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford on Friday, June 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 6:45 p.m. prayer service, and on Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

John Cole was born on December 16, 1928 in Chicago, Ill. to the late Alfred and Elizabeth (Klingelschmitt) Cole.

He attended St. Theodore's Elementary School and St. Rita's High School, both in Chicago, earned an undergraduate degree from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago.

On June 6, 1953 in Chicago, he married June A. Hane, who preceded him in death on April 11, 1982. He worked as a comptroller at Sola Electric in Chicago, Mercury Records in Richmond, Ind., Conn Music in Chicago, Nichols Home Shield in Davenport, Iowa, Nichols Aluminum-Quanex in Batavia, Ill., until retirement in 1993. On July 7, 1984 in Davenport, he married Valerie A. Chamberlain, who survives. In 2005 they moved to the Town of Medford.

He was a member of Taylor County Humane Society. He enjoyed reading, walking his dog, traveling, spending time with family and talking politics.

In addition to his wife, Valerie, survivors include four children, Stephen (Sandy) of Grayslake, Ill., Mary Beth (Dean) Sawvell of Davenport, Susan (Randy) Peterson of Austin, Texas, and Jennifer (Capt. Ryan) Goltz of Milwaukee; two step-children, Lisa (Arkadiusz) Kowalski of Warsaw, Poland, and Bridgette Lombardo of Davenport; eight grandchildren; one great – grandchild; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Christian Peterson in 2009; a brother, Raymond; and a sister, Joanne McSweeney.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Taylor County Humane Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com