"We are going to miss you, ole buddy. We met the first day of orientation at Knox College in 1953 and remained buddies ever since! We all became Betas, studied together, learned German (almost), marched together in ROTC (poorly), played in the IMs (won a few championships), drank a few brews at places where they didn't check IDs, washed dishes in the dining hall in exchange for their tasteless meals, unloaded the milk train that arrived at the Burlington Station at 4:30am, and planned our futures together (which didn't come out exactly as planned!). Then many lunches in Chicago, and the swapping of same stories over and over again. Lost track of you when you moved to Michigan (or was it the North Pole?). Always hoped you would come back to Chi. So long brother. Maybe we will meet again in Wooglin, who knows. But we have a lifetime of great memories to still enjoy. Homer Johnson and Nick Panos. "
In loving memory of
John F. Goltermann
June 4, 1935 - December 31, 2016
Middleton: John F. Goltermann, 81-years old, was surrounded by family when he died peacefully on December 31, 2016 at his home at Brookdale Middleton Stonefield in Middleton, Wisconsin. His parents Paul and Emma Goltermann welcomed him into the world on June 4, 1935 in his hometown of Elmhurst, Illinois, where he grew up with his two older siblings and later graduated from York High School.
An avid tennis player in his youth, John was awarded a tennis scholarship at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. After graduating from Knox in 1957, he served in the United States army as a medic. John then married Caroline Andrews of Kewanee, Illinois and the couple had three children. They divorced in 1975.
John worked for UARCO, Inc. for 11 years in Chicago and in Rockford, Illinois before launching a decades-long career in fundraising, including at Rockford College, Knox College and at the University Of Chicago School Of Business. He left the hustle and bustle of Chicago in favor of the slower pace in the U.P. of Michigan, where he lived and worked for over 10 years.
He retired in Middleton, Wisconsin, to live near his sister and her extended family. John was a member of the Advent Lutheran Church in Madison. He had a great sense of humor, loved to boat, enjoyed the walking trails around Middleton and rooting for the University of Wisconsin Badgers. John had a lot of friends and will be greatly missed.
John is survived by his sister Jean (Fred) Loichinger, nephew Dan (Lisa) Loichinger and niece Dawn (Dean) Krahn, all of Middleton. He is also survived by his children, Jean Goltermann, Neil Goltermann and Eva (Bruce) Basinger, grandchildren Wendi (Jason) Schutte, James (Anabelle Martin) Goltermann, all of Springfield, IL and Jillian Goltermann of West Virginia. John became a great-grandfather twice in 2016 with the births of Reina Goltermann and Henry Schutte.
Also surviving are nieces Paula (Ken) Shirek and Ann (Jimmy) Bethea as well as his nephews John Goltermann, Peter (Brenda) Goltermann and Fritz (Kathy) Goltermann. Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother Paul and sister-in-law Jean Ann Davis Goltermann of Tampa, Florida and his nephew Bob Loichinger.
A memorial service to celebrate John's life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at MCC ADVENT LUTHERAN CHURCH , 7118 Old Sauk Road
Madison, WI 5371 7. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Middleton Public Library Endowment Fund, 7425 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton WI 53562. Please share a memory.
Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
Tributes
"John Golterman made the best cinnamon rolls in the entire UP. Bar none. May your spirit rise and soar unencumbered. Mary Walters Ford"
"I knew John from his days in Michigan and earlier in Chicago. We traveled together with a group of other friends to Hawaii in the late 1990s and he was so much fun to be around. In the 1970s we worked together to bring a street fair to the Loyola University area. When we met at my house to plan the event, he always joked with my son Zack, then four or five. Zack enjoyed him and rarely left his side during those meetings. remember his wonderful sense of humor, keen mind and love of natural beauty. He was a cheerful, friendly man who could, and often did, strike up a conversation with anyone. He made great whole grain bread, called simply "John's Bread". May he rest in peace. "
"Rest in peace John, you were such a nice man."
"Eva (Goltermann) Basinger Some of my fondest memories of my Dad were spending time with him in Chicago. He always had something special planned for us to do when I visited him. Knowing my interest in theater and the arts, he once took me to see a performance of "A Chorus Line" at the Schubert Theater and several Shakespeare in the Round plays at the University of Chicago. We ate fabulous meals around the city but Berghoff's was a sentimental favorite. When I was an adult, Dad traveled to visit me, my husband and my son on several occasions. He loved to watch golf on TV and we watched the finale of the Master's Tournament together one of the times he was with us. We all screamed at the end because it was such a close match. Don't ask me who won because all I remember was how much fun we had together. My Dad loved to tease those closest to him and had a great sense of humor. I will always love him and look forward to seeing him again when Jesus returns. "
"Lisa Loichinger I met Uncle John in Chicago with my then boyfriend Dan. I couldn't get over how much Dan looked like John! Years later he came to Middleton and lived with us for a summer. All of us loved having him, especially our kids. He would join them in the back yard for bonfires and a beer. He shared the same birthdate with our daughter Kate and a few cakes together, too. I will miss John's sense of humor and his kindness that he showed to all of us. Love always, John."
"John, like his brother and sister, was a model for the rest of us. Not perfect, but one of the good guys. Big John, as they liked to call him at the senior care centers was my Godfather, and I'll miss him terribly. I have shared memories, which can never be taken away. I remember going down to Chicago to visit him when he lived off the lake and again with his communal friends. Two, very different experiences. I remember him coming to the house in Cleveland, Wisconsin in his little, red Toyota Corolla - he was 6' 6" for Gods sake. I remember hitting tennis balls with he and Aunt Caroline I remember him going up to Winona, MN with me to help our son Patrick celebrate his 21st birthday - grilling steaks and toasting on the front porch of the deck, and celebrating until 11 PM at the bar where Patrick worked. Thank heaven's we left at 11 AM, before the back flips off the bar! Mostly, I'll remember his gentle spirit, his generous soul and his great sense of humor. He loved his family even though we knew he didn't know how to express it. Love always John! You'll be missed."