"Sarah, I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. Love always, Kim"
John Kingsbury Bartosz, 47, of Hartland, WI found eternal peace and healing on March 28, 2016. The world lost a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. And the pediatric cancer community lost a leader, a champion, and one of the most important people to influence the way the world sees the universe of pediatric cancer.
Born in Hartford, CT, John graduated from the University of Southern California in 1991. He attended Quinnipiac University and received his law degree in 1994; subsequently, he attended NYU and received his Masters of Laws in Taxation in 1995. Diagnosed with rare, untreatable cancer during his law school years, John fought tirelessly with resolve, beating all odds and surpassing all expectations to finish his law degrees with honors.
John and Sarah married in 1998 and welcomed their twins Annie and Jack in 2001 and Tommy in 2012. John went into private practice in 2002 establishing The Kingsbury Firm with his tax, estate planning, small business, and non-profit expertise. He proudly served as a founding member of the Ann's Hope Foundation for melanoma.
When John and Sarah's son Jack was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age four, John dedicated himself to educating himself and others on the need for advancements in pediatric cancer therapies. He traveled the country with Jack in search of treatments and made connections with physicians, researchers, and fellow parents in an effort to unite childhood cancer victims, families, medical professionals, treatments, trials, and research with promising possibilities.
John Bartosz singlehandedly set up more pediatric cancer charities across the country than any other attorney. He guided parents, families, and philanthropists of all kinds though the process and helped them join the battle. He sat on numerous boards and gave mountains of solid advice. He not only helped with the legal aspects of all the foundations he served, but gave honest insight on how to do effective philanthropy. He gave hope and guidance.
While actively helping run and establish other foundations, he started the amazing I Back Jack Foundation with Sarah in 1996 and Gold In September (G9) Charitable Trust with Annie in 2013 believing no other family should face the heartache of a childhood cancer diagnosis. All the while, John fought numerous life-threatening battles with his own health all a result of the long-term side effects of the cancer treatments he had endured. His tenacity, resolve, and brilliant mind were with him until the very end.
John was an honorable person, a global thinker, a successful entrepreneur, and a thoughtful philanthropist, all with a quick wit, hilarious sense of humor, a deep and abiding capacity for love and laughter, and a spirited determination. More than anything, John was a proud and loving husband and father.
He will be dearly missed by his wife Sarah Detling Bartosz, his surviving children Anne (14) and Thomas (3), his father John W. Bartosz of Lac du Flambeau, WI, his in-laws Andy and Julie Detling of Presque Isle, WI, his brother Chris (Robynn) of Waukesha, his brother David of Madison, WI, and sister-in-law Katie (Aaron) Kincaid of Rockford, IL. He is further survived by nephews Alex Bartosz and Griffin Kincaid, niece Abby Bartosz, other relatives, and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved son Jack and his mother Carolyn Tule Bartosz.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 4:30 PM at Westbrook Church, 1100 Hwy 83, Hartland, WI 53029 followed by a reception. Memorial gifts can be made to the "Annie and Tommy Bartosz Education Fund" c/o WaterStone Bank 1230 George Towne Dr, Pewaukee, WI 53072.
"Sarah, I'm so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers. Love always, Kim"
"Sarah, Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss. Michael Duffy and family"
"Tom and I were so very sorry to hear of John's passing. Initially I only spoke with John on the phone when I had questions regarding financial affairs for my mom. He was always so kind and helpful. And I called him a lot! When my mom passed away last September we met with John at his firm. He was everything you'd want your lawyer to be. We were so impressed with him and everyone in his firm. Our thoughts and prayers for strength and healing go out to his family, colleagues and friends. "
"Dan and I loved John. He was our attorney for years and he was smart, sharp, kind, helpful, personable and an all-around great guy. We knew that we could trust him with our finances, wills and all of our legal needs. He spoke often with love of his wife and children, and we knew that he loved and adored them all deeply. He was not just our attorney; we became friends. We are so sorry for John's passing to Glory~ for his family, for us, and for all who knew and loved him. "
"sending deepest sympathies and condolences, such a hero in a family full of them"
"Sarah, so sorry for your loss. "
"Sarah, Annie and Tommy: Please know you are all in our continued thoughts and prayers. "