John Bashinsky died peacefully on December 22, 2023 with his loving family at his side.  He was a life-long   resident of Kenosha.

Born on January 2, 1927, at St. Catherine’s Hospital (he was the 1927 New Years baby), he was the son of the Adam and Anastasia (Kocakovich) Bashinsky.  John attended local schools and was a 1946 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School and a 1947 graduate of the Kenosha College of Commerce.

John asked Irene (Simko) to a dance at a Fireman’s Ball held at the Eagles Club in 1950. They were later married at St. John’s Lutheran Church on May 24, 1952, in Kenosha and have lived in Kenosha all of their lives. John and Irene said their key for a lasting relationship, “Faith in God, love for each other and their family, trust, having many good friends and a good sense of humor.”

After college he worked at J.I. Case offices in Racine and the Simmons factory offices in Kenosha.  In 1949 he joined his father and brother, Stanley, in running the Sheridan Road Beer Depot (later known as Sheridan Road Liquors) and managed it until he retired in 1993.

John was a life-long member of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church where he served as Treasurer for over 30 years and was a member of the Church Board of Directors and the St. Nicholas Brotherhood.  John also participated in the Northside Businessmen’s Association and was a past-president.

John and Irene loved to travel and enjoyed their many trips to Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean.  Lawn care was a passion for John, and he was a good handyman who could fix most things around the house and store.  In his younger years, he enjoyed swimming and fishing.  Later he and Irene spend many hours playing cards like pinochle and dining out with friends.  John also spent a lot of time on his computer trading jokes with friends and playing games.  He was a Green Bay Packer owner and liked to watch NASCAR races and golf.

John is survived by his dear wife, Irene and their three wonderful daughters: Carol (Robert) Mohr of Muskego WI, Linda (Norman Jr.) Ziesemer and Bonnie Ireland of Kenosha.  He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Bethany (Anthony) Papa, Daniel (Danielle) Mohr, Adam (Annie), Andrew and Alec (Angela) Ziesemer of Kenosha, and Eric (Bianca Gille) Ireland of Portland OR, and great granddaughters, Destiny and Ophelia Ziesemer, and Hayden Papa, his loving nieces and their families: Barbara (Richard) Regent, Diane (Don) Robinette, and Debra (Bruce) Ratzlow, and son-in-law, David Ireland.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Anastasia; brother Stanley; his in-laws, Anna and Andrew Simko and brother and sisters-in-law, Walter, Betty and Rita Simko.

Service Info

Funeral services honoring John’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at the Piasecki Funeral Home, 3720 39th Ave, Kenosha, WI.

Interment will be held privately in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.

A visitation for John will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 4313 18^th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53140 would be appreciated.