John Phillip Bokmueller, age 90 of Kenosha, passed away the morning of Monday, December 29, 2014 at Brookside Care Center. He was surrounded by many members of his loving family and will truly be missed by all.

Born in Kenosha on March 2, 1924, he was the son of the late Peter and Magdelena (Thabor) Bokmueller.   Raised in Kenosha along with his five other siblings; John was a lifelong resident of Wisconsin. Until his death, John remained friends with many of his childhood companions, often seeing them for lunch or breakfast several times a week.

John served in the military during WWII, returning to the U.S. to attend UW-Madison. A lifelong badger fan, he earned a business degree before returning to Kenosha to work at American Motors Corp., as what he liked to refer to as a “numbers man”.

John married his soul mate, Ethel Larsen, on January 31, 1948 at St. George Catholic Church, surrounded by many friends and family. John and Ethel enjoyed an active life together, golfing frequently with friends for more than 50 years, and enjoying many other clubs and activities. They were blessed with three beautiful children and 63 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on August 30, 2011.

He was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, V.F.W. Junker-Ball Post #1865, St. Vincent DePaul Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Many of his retirement years were spent wintering in Bradenton, FL with his wife, where they were able to spend more time golfing than Wisconsin winters would allow. These trips were often the highlight of their year, as they would visit their granddaughter and her family in Georgia on their way to Florida. In the later years, golfing in Florida was replaced by visits to Georgia to spend more time with family. John enjoyed many hobbies and participated in many clubs, enjoying time playing cards, bowling and golfing with friends. He kept up his active lifestyle, with few concessions to age, until two weeks ago.

He is survived by his granddaughter, Kati (Kevin) Hyland and great-granddaughter, Madelyn Hyland; sisters-in-law, Joan White and Carol Larsen and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Bruce Bokmueller; his two daughters, Susan Bokmueller and Anita Kloet; three brothers, Nickolas, Matthew and Peter Bokmueller; and three sisters, Gertrude Doerflinger, Bertha Frye and Theresa Maurer.

Service Info

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 4804 7th Avenue. Full military honors will follow the Mass. Inurnment will take place in St. George Cemetery.