John C. Deetz, age 88, of South Wayne, died on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Pleasant View Nursing Home.
John C. Deetz was born December 28, 1929. He was named after his grandfather. He was born to William N. Deetz and Luella Overhalden Johnson Deetz. He grew up on the home dairy farm. He attended West Wayne one room grade school and graduated in 1944. He went on to graduate from South Wayne High School in 1948. He then attended the University of Wisconsin Farm Short Course for two winters and graduated in 1950.
He started farming in partnership with his father in 1951. Through the years, he purchased most of the land his ancestors ever owned. He was the fifth generation to farm the land. He had a long career farming the same land for 64 years.
John’s father was an early day soil conservationist, so young John took an early interest in soil conservation. He helped his Dad lay out contour strips when he was about eleven years old. As the years went by, he took a greater interest in Soil Biology and No-Till Farming Practices. John always believed one could farm these rolling hills by not losing any soil. By improving the soil biology, he could make the soil better. John was agriculturally inspired by Lewis Bromfield, William Albrecht, Gary Zimmer and others. John took an active interest in community affairs, serving many years on the Wayne Township Boards. He was a lifetime member of the Lafayette County Farm Bureau and was directly involved with several Cooperatives in Lafayette County.
He was joined in marriage to Shirley Ann Johnson on September 26, 1970 in Rockford, Illinois. They were married for nearly forty-six years. She died on January 3, 2016. John was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Fannie Eileen Sorenson and brother-in-law, Vaughn Sorenson. He is survived by his three nieces, Diane Schilz, Patricia Loeffl, and Tina Sorenson; two nephews, Scott Sorenson and Chris Sorenson; and brother-in-law, Lee Johnson.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 2, 2018 at SHRINER HAGER GOHLKE Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Cernek officiating.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Eastman Cemetery at a later date.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to family and friends of the community who were there for him. There are no words to express how deeply you had touched him. Thank you to the staff at Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.
