Obituary for John Reese Bartholomay
On the 17th day of April 2023, loving husband and father John Reese Bartholomay of Palmyra, WI passed away peacefully in his home at the age of 75.
John was born on July 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Reinold and Marian (Mitchell) Bartholomay. He was Baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran in Chicago. Growing up, he was an active member of Walther League and graduated from Luther North High School in 1965. He received a business degree in 1969 from Valparaiso University and on January 17, 1970 he married his high school sweetheart Sharon Lynn Andersen. Together, they raised two daughters, Jean and Jennifer.
After university, he was recruited for a management program for Sears Roebuck and served in the Army National Guard. John and Sharon then left Chicago as he held various management positions with Sears in Bloomington and Quincy, IL followed by Greendale and Milwaukee, WI.
After 13 years, John left Sears to fulfill his childhood dream of owning his own business. He opened and operated Kwik Kopy Printing, later PrintCraft, from 1982 to 2018.
John loved the outdoors, especially fishing. His fondest memories included fishing trips to the Arctic Circle and Mexico, family camping trips, cabin weekends up north, and countless hours on the water casting for the prize muskie.
John held a strong Christian faith throughout his life. He was very active at Peace Lutheran Church in New Berlin, WI serving in various positions with Church Council and Elders. He loved his disciples and men’s breakfast Bible study groups.
John will be remembered for his faith, work ethic, and dedication to his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Reinold and Marian.
John is survived by his wife Sharon, daughters Jean (Timothy) Enyeart, and Jennifer (Jacob) Hockett, and grandchildren Noah & Tyler Hockett, and Eleanor & Maxwell Enyeart, and brother Reinold (Barb) Bartholomay.
The memorial gathering will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in New Berlin on Monday, May 1st. Visitation at 10:00am, and memorial service at 11:30am with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Peace Lutheran Church music fund.
John was born on July 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Reinold and Marian (Mitchell) Bartholomay. He was Baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran in Chicago. Growing up, he was an active member of Walther League and graduated from Luther North High School in 1965. He received a business degree in 1969 from Valparaiso University and on January 17, 1970 he married his high school sweetheart Sharon Lynn Andersen. Together, they raised two daughters, Jean and Jennifer.
After university, he was recruited for a management program for Sears Roebuck and served in the Army National Guard. John and Sharon then left Chicago as he held various management positions with Sears in Bloomington and Quincy, IL followed by Greendale and Milwaukee, WI.
After 13 years, John left Sears to fulfill his childhood dream of owning his own business. He opened and operated Kwik Kopy Printing, later PrintCraft, from 1982 to 2018.
John loved the outdoors, especially fishing. His fondest memories included fishing trips to the Arctic Circle and Mexico, family camping trips, cabin weekends up north, and countless hours on the water casting for the prize muskie.
John held a strong Christian faith throughout his life. He was very active at Peace Lutheran Church in New Berlin, WI serving in various positions with Church Council and Elders. He loved his disciples and men’s breakfast Bible study groups.
John will be remembered for his faith, work ethic, and dedication to his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Reinold and Marian.
John is survived by his wife Sharon, daughters Jean (Timothy) Enyeart, and Jennifer (Jacob) Hockett, and grandchildren Noah & Tyler Hockett, and Eleanor & Maxwell Enyeart, and brother Reinold (Barb) Bartholomay.
The memorial gathering will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in New Berlin on Monday, May 1st. Visitation at 10:00am, and memorial service at 11:30am with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Peace Lutheran Church music fund.