John Sielaff

John Sielaff Peacefully left this world on August 23, 2022 at the age of 73. Beloved husband of Sharon Mertens. Dear son of the late Eugene and the late Bernadine (nee Shea). Dear brother of Mike (Joni), the late Monica, Patrick (Linda), Karen (Mark) Schweiger, the late Charlie (Diane), Colleen (the late Rod Halverson), Judie McPherson, Donna (Kelly) Herald and the late Sue (the late Paul) Mauch. John will also be missed by many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Visitation Thursday September 15, 2022 from 3-5:45 pm with a service at 5:45 pm at the Max A. Sass & Sons Mission Hills Chapel. John served in the Army during the Vietnam era as a Cartographic Draftsman, special assignment to the Air Force at Pearl Harbor. He graduated Summa cum laude with a BBA from UW Milwaukee in 1982. He and Sharon moved to Austin, Texas in 1982 and quickly learned to love the Texas hill country and the friends they made there. John was happiest with a fishing rod in his hand, or in a duck blind, or working with his dog. He and Sharon spent many of their vacations and weekends fishing or hunting. They also loved to travel together – especially when they could visit friends and family along the way. John liked to throw a party and would share the bounty of spring fishing on the Texas streams by putting on an annual fish fry – typically feeding 50 or more people. John loved his family and they were the primary reason he and Sharon moved back to Wisconsin. John’s mother was from a large Irish family and earlier, in his 20s, John instigated a reunion of those relatives – a formidable number of families. This annual reunion continued for many decades. John would want to thank his many friends – especially friends Bruce and Pat Dobrinska, John and Gail Bernardi, Jerry and Kari Rankin, Carol Batterton, and the Shepherd family who helped John and Sharon so much during his difficult illness. Special thanks to Cindi and all of the caring staff at Aurora Health at Home and Zilber Family Hospice. John cared deeply about the environment, wildlife habitat and leaving our planet a better place for the next generations. Please consider a donation to the charity of your choice that supports these goals, or to the following: Ducks Unlimited International Crane Foundation