John William Boortz, 77, of Chetek, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at his home.  John was born on January 8, 1943 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin the son of John E.K. and Vera V. Boortz.

John attended Cameron High School and was active in sports; he was a baseball pitcher in High School and at the University Wisconsin River Falls.  He graduated from High Scool in 1960 and from the University of Wisconsin River Falls in 1964.  He married Karen Carlson on February 15, 1963.

John and Karen moved to six different states with his jobs, including Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Belvidere, Illinois, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Salisbury, Maryland, Beaver Dam a second time, Anaheim Hills, California, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, North Attleboro, Massachusetts and Chetek, Wisconsin.  John and Karen developed a phrase “just going on vacation and taking our furniture with us”.

John worked in Regulatory Compliance with various food companies, Seagrams, Green Giant, Pillsbury-VanDeKamps, Merckens Chocolate, Johnsonville and Primera Foods.  Through his work John got to visit countries of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Israel twice.  John returned to Wisconsin from Massachusetts in 1996 and retired from Primera Foods in Cameron in January 2007.

John loved to be outdoors working around the yard on projects he could find.  With his wife they loved to visit shut ins and nursing homes.  John was an active member of Chetek Lutheran Church working on the development of streaming church services to the internet.  John enjoyed their many friends and members of the church.  “A church is where you meet great friends that will be friends forever”.  John always loved the church service messages from Pastor Guy Redfield.

John leaves to celebrate his memory, his wife, Karen Boortz, sons, Bradley (Lisa) Boortz and John (Karen) Boortz, grandchildren, Johnathan, Nicholas and Bryce Boortz, great granddaughter, Isabella and a great grandson expected in October, sisters, Karen Mueller and Barb Frafjord.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Chetek Lutheran Church on Friday, October 2nd at 11:00 A.M.  Visitation will be at Chetek Lutheran from 10:00 A.M. – until the time of service.  John will be laid to rest at the Lakeview Cemetery in Chetek following the service.  Please use facial coverings and practice good social distancing. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Chetek Lutheran Churcn.

The Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Chetek has been entrusted with arrangements.

Last Update: Sep 28, 2020 5:34 pm CDT