John A. Moede, 76, of Shawano, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.
John was born Nov. 3, 1943, in Shawano, a son of the late Arlow and Isabell (Bartz) Moede. He was raised on the family farm in the town of Richmond near Thornton, where he attended rural grade school at Stony Hill. He then went to Lincoln School in Shawano and graduated from Shawano High School with the Class of 1961.
John worked numerous jobs, including on the family farm, for several years before volunteering for the U.S. Army. He was inducted in January 1964 and saw duty at the start of the Vietnam War in the Central Highlands with the 70th Engineers, a combat unit attached to the 101st Airborne and the 1st Calvary Division. John was released from active duty in January 1966, and he served in the reserves until being honorably discharged in 1970.
Following his service, John worked construction for several years and later became an over-the-road truck driver, logging over 3.5 million accident-free miles before retiring in 2006.
He was active in various veterans organizations. He was a life member and president of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 206; a life member, past commander and quartermaster/adjutant of VFW Post 2723; a life member of American Legion Post 117, AmVets Post 10 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22, where he served as president for one year.
John also served as the financial secretary of St. Paul Lutheran Church-Stony Hill, and he was on the Shawano County Thrivent Financial board of directors where he helped organize many benefits for people, including his fellow veteran comrades.
John loved the outdoors and also loved to travel and “see the world,” which he accomplished between the service and his truck driving days. He always said he sailed and flew across the Pacific Ocean, and he sailed under and flew and drove over the Golden Gate Bridge. While a truck driver, he traveled in all 48 U.S. mainland states and several provinces of Canada.
Survivors include his wife, Theresa, whom he married in Las Vegas in 2004; his daughters, Jennifer Quinn and Carmen Kramer, both of Shawano, and Lori Weitz, of Appleton; seven grandchildren; his stepson, William Nelson; his stepdaughter, Tracy Nelson; four stepgrandchildren; his sister, Kathy (John) Koepke, of Appleton; his brother, Michael Moede, of Clintonville; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Moede, and his sister, Carolyn Braatz.
A funeral service for John A. Moede will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church-Stony Hill in the town of Richmond. Pastor John Eyer will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted by the AmVets Post 10 and the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 206 at the church following the funeral. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church beginning at 9 a.m. and contine until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred in John’s name to St. Paul Lutheran Church Stony Hill or Wolf River Lutheran High School.
Mickelson Funeral and Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
The family would like to thank the staff at Shawano Health Services, St. Vincent Hospital and Unity Hospice for the loving care they provided John.
John A. Moede
