John M. Jorgensen

John Jorgensen passed away April 14, 2022 in Milwaukee at the age of 73. Beloved husband of Arlene (née Kiefer) Jorgensen. Loving father of Gina, John (Laura), and Eric (Tiffany) Jorgensen, as well as his almost “daughter” Sabrina Lupoli who resides with them. He was “Grandpa Pizza” to Michael (Antonia), Nicholas (Lia), Dianna (Steve), Brittany (Peter), Darrin, Sofia, Natalija, Wesley, Tessa, and John "Jack," and Great Grandpa to Cecillia and Cara. Further survived by sister Patricia Rand and brothers Michael and Jeffrey Jorgensen. Further survived by many other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his loving parents Stanley and Josephine (Sciortino) Jorgensen, brother Tommy Jorgensen, and sisters Valery (Jorgensen) Webb, Kathy (Jorgensen) Brzonkala, Frances (Jorgensen) Marquardt. John was always ready with a joke or prank and made his family and friends laugh. He was proud of his Sicilian heritage and loved Italian food, Italian cookies with his coffee, and a loaf of fresh Italian bread with butter. “Grandpa Pizza” knew all of the best pizza spots and delivered pizzas as a young man. He always had a small bottle of Pepsi and enjoyed hiding the bottle around the house as a joke and a reminder he stopped by. John loved his grandchildren. He enjoyed trying to scare them by telling scary stories about Chucky and Hodags. The youngest grandchildren were spoiled with love, laughs, and toys. John never missed a day of work, and he was a union man. He was a master mechanic and taught his sons John and Eric, former son-in-law Darrin, nephew Tommy, and others everything about cars. You could find every tool you needed in John’s Garage. He always helped you when you needed a repair or needed advice buying a car. John and his brother Tommy spent much of their time together working on cars in the garage. “DJ John” loved music and had an extensive music collection. He always had the top-of-the-line TV and loved watching movies and the news. John talked over every movie and told you what would happen. He loved to repeat the funny parts and make everyone laugh. John wore all black when he was young like his brothers and friends. You could find them racing cars and hanging out in the Third Ward with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths. John could get a perfect tan in an hour. John traveled to Italy and Sicily with his wife Arlene, daughter Gina, and granddaughter Brittany while she studied Italian in Sicily in 2011. It was one of the most memorable trips he ever made. They visited Bagheria, Sicily, birthplace of his grandfather Mariano Sciortino and Campofelice di Fitalia, Sicily, birthplace of his grandmother Frances Savasta, known as Jenny. John talked to the locals and visited the churches and cemeteries. John, alongside his wife Arlene, was the family genealogist. If you are looking for information about the Sicilian or Scandinavian sides of our family, please contact his wife Arlene. Please share stories and your favorite memories with us.