Oliver A. ‘Tony” Johannes

The three most important things in Oliver A. ‘Tony” Johannes’ life were faith, family and sports.

Mr. Johannes was a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks, his son Bill said. He was also a longtime member of a Catholic church in Milwaukee and later of Divine Savior Parish in Fredonia.

Mr. Johannes, 81, died of lung cancer at Forest Haven Residential Facility in Fredonia on Thursday, March 22.

He was born Jan. 18, 1937, to Michael and Leona Lauer Johannes in Milwaukee.

He attended Catholic grade school and graduated from Milwaukee Boys’ Technical High School in 1955. He served in the Army from 1955 until being honorably discharged in 1958.

On Oct. 5, 1963, he married Barbara Kell at Corpus Christi Parish in Milwaukee.

Mr. Johannes worked in production for American Motors for nine years and was a groundskeeper with the Milwaukee County Park system for 27 years until he retired in 1995.

To handle his landscaping at home, Mr. Johannes used a less-modernized piece of equipment than he had at work.

“I don’t think my dad had a gas motor. We had a push mower and I hate that thing,” his son said. “When we cleaned out his house, it was still there.”

Mr. Johannes had a pleasant personality, his son said.

“He was just very nice, down-to-earth, a little quiet at times. He liked to joke around a little bit,” he said. “He was just a very good guy.”

After retirement, Mr. Johannes worked in security part time.

He enjoyed watching movies with his favorite actor John Wayne. Westerns with Clint Eastwood were also favorites, his son said.

Most conversations with Mr. Johannes were about sports, he said.

Mr. Johannes is survived by his sons Mike (Linda) of Knoxville, Tenn., Jim (Tammy Cain) of Newburg and Bill (Tracy) of Fredonia; grandchildren Josh (Abby), Ryan (fiancée Megan), Trevor, Allie (Nick), Niki (Michael), Maddie (Joe) and Noah (Morgan); and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara and siblings Leon Johannes and Kathy Punio.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Monday, March 26, at Divine Savior Catholic Church, Holy Cross Chapel, in Belgium.  Father Neil Zinthefer officiated.

Burial was in St. Rose Catholic Cemetery in Fredonia.

Memorials to the American Lung Cancer Association, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Program or the Wounded Warrior Project are encouraged.

Mueller Funeral Home of Cedarburg handled arrangements.

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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