John L. Waltenberger

It is with great sadness we announce the death of our beloved John Lawrence Waltenberger on Wednesday November 20, 2024. John was born on Friday the 13th of March, 1943 in Madison, Wisconsin. He did consider “Friday the 13th” a very lucky day. His parents were George and Dorothy Waltenberger.

John spent most of his childhood years in Racine, Wisconsin. He graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1961. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and graduated with Honors in 1967. He continued his education eventually earning a Master’s Degree in Education. Following his graduation in 1967 he began his 33 year teaching career with the majority of it at Wind Point Elementary School. It was at the New Teacher’s Picnic in 1967 where he met his wife, Mary “Kathie” Kathleen Bohn. They celebrated 56 years of marriage this past August. He was a kidney transplant survivor for over 24 years (wife Kathie living donor March 2000). This confirms John and Kathie were a perfect match. John was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, teacher, friend, coach and self proclaimed ambassador for The Villages of Florida. John enjoyed playing golf, tennis, pickleball, cards and pretty much any competition. Travel was another one of his passions; ranging from family summer camping and car trips, Christmas trips to Siesta Key, to cruises and overseas travel in his retirement. Above all he treasured spending time with his family and friends, trying to attend as many of his grandkids sporting events and artistic performances. He never stopped coaching or teaching.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Kathie; his children, James (Antoinette) Waltenberger, Heidi (Thomas) Pins, William (Jennifer) Waltenberger and Katie (Brian) Lindemer. He also leaves behind 13 amazing grandchildren, Lila and Rowan John Waltenberger; Mary, John, Lucy, Sally, Cecilia and Ramona Pins; Violet, Ivy and Milo John Waltenberger; Arianna and Lauren Lindemer. Others include his two sisters Janice (Michael) Kutschera and Jane (William) Muzenski; sister-in-law Barbara Jarapko; special Aunt Ramona Petersen, Uncle James (Cathy) Stanek as well as many much loved nieces, nephews and cousins. John’s friendships lasted a lifetime (Frank, Jerry, Mike M, Tony A., Tony U., Ray, Jon, Mike D., Dave…).

John was preceded in death by his first born son John Lawrence; his beloved mother Dorothy, father George, mother-in-law Mary Schiller, father-in-law Joseph Bohn. Brother-in-law James Jarapko. Aunts and Uncles; Bob and Sally Stanek, Carol and Mike Schneider, Bill Stanek, Tom Petersen, Vince and Elaine Waltenberger, Joseph and Marlene Waltenberger, Elizabeth Waltenberger, John Waltenberger. Special friend Bill Robertson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rita Catholic Church, 4339 Douglas Ave, Thursday, December 5, 2024, 11am. Relatives and friends may meet Wednesday at the funeral home 4-6 pm and Thursday at the church 10-11 am. Private interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Memorial contributions to the Racine Community Foundation or National Kidney Foundation are suggested.

Special thanks to John’s caregivers at Select Specialty Hospital in West Allis and Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, especially Dr. Barbara Bresnahan and the Transplant Nephrology team.