John Hoeschele

John Hoeschele, 80, of Richland Center (formerly of Baraboo and Holmen) passed away on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Bland Bekkadal Hospice Center in Viroqua. John Hoeschele, 80, of Richland Center (formerly of Baraboo and Holmen) passed away on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the Bland Bekkadal Hospice Center in Viroqua. He was born in Romania (Muldova) on September 3, 1937 to Gottfried and Karoline Hoeschele. In 1939 the Hoeschele family forcibly immigrated to Poland and in 1946 were forced out of Poland and went to Germany. In March 1952, through sponsorship in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Hoeschele familys dream of coming to the United States came true. They were sponsored by the Claire family near Galesville, Wisconsin. John graduated from Gale-Ettrick High School in 1956. He met his sweetheart, Cleone Hanson from Whitehall and they married in 1958 and had three children, Debra, Tami and Daniel. John served in the US Army, 2nd Airborne, from January 1957 to June 1960. John worked for United Parcel Service from 1963-1973 as a package car driver and then from 1973- 1993 as a supervisor in Racine and Janesville and then manager in Lake Delton until his retirement in 1993. John was one of the key people in the start up of UPS in Germany. John and Cleone moved to Frankfort, Germany for this, where they lived from March 1981- December 1982. After retiring at 55, John worked different part time jobs to keep busy, such as Miller Ice, Gopher News, and as a custodian at First Lutheran Church in Onalaska. John was an avid soccer player in Germany and after coming to the United States he continued to play soccer and also softball, bowling and golf. He loved to play golf, and went on many golfing vacations, one as recent as July of 2017. John loved watching professional and college sports, including baseball, basketball, Badger football, soccer, golf and especially his Green Bay Packers! John really got the "travel bug" after he retired, and he and his wife went on many vacations with family and friends, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and of course many places in the United States, especially enjoying Palm Desert, CA, Breckenridge, CO, Hilton Head, SC, Phoenix, AZ, Gatlinburg, TN, and Kissimmee, FL, where John and Cleone owned several Time Shares. John and Cleone were members of St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Onalaska in the 1960s and 1970s and then again after moving back to Holmen in 1998. They were members of St. Johns Lutheran church in Baraboo from 1980 1998. John was a current member of St. Johns Lutheran church in Hillpoint, WI. John loved his family, especially his 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. In April 2016, he moved to Richland Center with his daughter Deb and her husband Dan. He enjoyed more traveling while there and just spending time with family. John is survived by three children, Debra (Dan) Schwarz of Richland Center, Tami (Charlie) Eddy of Dousman, Daniel (Julie) Hoeschele of Baraboo, six grandchildren: Jennifer (Clay) Donohoe of Verona, Melissa (Michael) Wertz of Richland Center, Brandon Eddy of Dousman, Travis (Katie) Eddy of Colorado Springs, CO., Lucas Hoeschele and Anthony Hoeschele of Baraboo, five great-grandchildren: Logan and Dylan Donohoe and Adelyn, Cameron and Ellie Wertz, one brother Al (Cathy) Hoeschele of Juneau, three sisters, Hertha (Paul) Squire of Onalaska, Pauline (Roy) Grove of Grand Rapids, MI., Helene (Gene) Gaarder of Watertown, Brothers and sisters in law: Hanna Hoeschele of Black River Falls, Jerry Jasper of Chippewa Falls, Dianne and Ardell Thorson of Pigeon Falls, Darlene and Bob Gabriel of Northfield, Sheldon and Bonnie Hanson of Augusta and Karen and Dennis Lyon of Northfield; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his loving wife Cleone in 2008, his parents, Gottfried and Karoline, two brothers, Ludwig Hoeschele and Christof Hoeschele, a sister Kristin Hoeschele, two infant sisters, father and mother in law, Carl and Gladys Hanson, two sisters in law, Mavis Jasper and Sandra Myren. John battled cancer since 2013, but he still loved life so much. He can now rest in peace with his Savior in heaven! Visitation and funeral services will be held on Friday, November 24, 2017 at St. Johns Lutheran Church (S6007 State Road 154, Hillpoint, WI 53937) with funeral starting at 11:00 and visitation from 9:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will take place at a later date at the Onalaska Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www.VossFH.com. The Vosseteig Funeral Home in Westby is serving the family.