John E. Eilers

John Edwin Eilers, age 73, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2015.  John grew up in Iowa and Indiana, graduating from high school in 1959.  After high school, he worked construction and proudly joined the US Air Force where he worked as an aircraft mechanic. On February 27, 1965, he married his loving wife, Judith (Techmeier). He was an amazing dad to three daughters - Susan, Sandra and Sharon. John was a farmer and natural  mechanic. Throughout his life, John worked various jobs while raising a family.  He was a mechanic in the Milwaukee area, a school bus driver for Fall Creek school district, brick layer during the construction of Augusta High School and long haul semi-truck driver all the while farming and raising a family in the Fall Creek, WI area from the 1960s through the 1990s.  He eventually moved to Watertown, WI working retail at Zuern Lumber, then Menards in Rice Lake, WI.

John enjoyed hunting and fishing during the many seasons Wisconsin has to offer.  He would often be found with his daughter Sandy, son-in-laws and later his grandchildren hunting and fishing in northern Wisconsin.  He remained a gentleman farmer all his life.  John's other great passion was restoring vintage John Deere tractors and other novelty farm machinery.  John enjoyed traveling to various parts of America either through his work as a long haul semi-truck driver, on family vacations to western states, or hunting trips to South Dakota.

John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judy, of Chetek, WI; three daughters, Susan (Allen) Erickson of Deerfield, WI, Sandy (Paul) Newell of Chetek, WI and Sharon (Ed) Garza of Grafton, WI; 6 grandchildren, Sean and Adam Erickson, Sam and Jared Newell, Casey and Jacob Garza; and his loyal walking companion, Rebel.  He is survived by his two sisters, Pat (Jerome) Herber and Bonnie (Al) Zaruba and  many loving nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.  He is preceded in death by his parents Herman and Juanita Eilers, nephew Jason Zaruba and other special family relatives.

A memorial gathering will take place at the funeral home Saturday, May 9, 2015 from 11A.M. - 1:00 P.M.   The Vigil will take place at 11:30 A.M. with Father Jim Bartelme officiating.  John's cremains will be laid to rest at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI privately.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the staff at Lakeview Medical Center and Lakeview Hospice Care in Rice Lake for their excellent care of John during his cancer treatments and in his final days.

Due to floral display policy at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, please consider donating to the following charity - www.takeavetfishing.com .