John H. Uthe, 71, of Fairplay, WI, passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at home from an apparent heart attack.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 16, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at Sinsinawa, with Fr. Ken Frisch officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by members of American Legion Post # 526 of Hazel Green.

Visitation will be from 1 – 5 p.m. on Sunday, and from 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. on Monday at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque, where the parish prayer service will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

John was born on February 6, 1947 in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Melvin and Helen (Bonnet) Uthe. The family lived on a farm in rural Hazel Green, WI. John graduated from Wahlert High School in 1964. After graduation, he served in the U. S. Army from 1966 – 1968 during the Vietnam War. He married the love of his life, Joyce DeMuth on September 21, 1968. The couple had two children, Mark & Brian.

During his lifetime John worked at the John Deere Dubuque Works for 38 years, until his retirement in 2004. He was a former member of U.A.W. Local # 94, and a member of American Legion Post # 526 of Hazel Green. After retirement, he worked part-time at Top Notch Plumbing, Heating, & Electrical.

He was an avid Badger and Packer fan. John loved playing golf with his wife Joyce and friends. John enjoyed playing cards with his buddies, and BS-ing at the Barge.

He loved hunting with his sons, brother, and grandsons. When it came to the girls though, it was more of a hot chocolate and donuts kind of hunting morning. John was not a frequent fisherman but he was always there to teach the grandkids how to hook a worm and touch a fish.

His grandkids admired his contagious belly laugh and never left the house with an empty stomach or without a new story about the good ol’ days. John’s grandkids were his pride and joy. Any minute he was able to spend time with them he did. There was not a day that went by that he didn’t see his two youngest and take them for a golf cart ride around Fairplay. John left his family with many great memories that we will cherish forever.

Surviving is his wife Joyce; sons Mark (Julie) Uthe and Brian (Jessica) Uthe both of Fairplay; seven grandchildren, Cassie Jorgensen (fiancé, Michael Foley), Courtney Uthe, Briana Uthe, Hunter Uthe, Dillon Uthe, Colton Uthe and Kylie Uthe; one sister, JoAnne (Don) Gibson and one brother, Dale (Vicki) Uthe, all of Hazel Green; as well as seven brother and sister-in-laws, Mary Jane (David) Busch, Richard (Mary Jean) DeMuth, Betty (Don) Dreessens, Jim (Diane) DeMuth, Eunice (Bill) Oster, Tom (Sandy) DeMuth, Joe (Janice) DeMuth; and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Helen, his infant brother Carl, and his father-in-law Clarence & mother-in-law Evelyn DeMuth.

In lieu of flowers, a John Uthe memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at http://www.millerfhed.com