John Thomas Fowler of Mosinee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024 at the age of 83.

He was born on July 3, 1940 in Amery, WI to Howard and Lavina (Church) Fowler.

He was the second oldest of four boys. Growing up, he excelled academically while belonging to 4H, wrestling, and drama. It was in 4H that he met the love of his life, Donna Brackee. After graduating high school, he proudly attended Milwaukee School of Engineering. On June 25, 1960 he married Donna and she joined him in Milwaukee for his last years of college. He received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Their first daughter, Deborah Sue, was born in 1962. His engineering career moved the family to Minnesota, where he worked for Electric Machinery Mfg. In Forest Lake, their second daughter, Jill Marie, was born in 1973. In 1982, the family moved to Appleton, WI where he was a design engineer for Kurz and Root Generator Co. In 1990, they moved to Mankato, MN, where he went on to expand his career at Kato Engineering. After many years at Kato, he became an independent consultant for them for another ten years. Throughout his career, he was sent around the world for new projects and trouble-shooting existing ones. One of his highlights was working with the U.S. Navy on aircraft carrier projects.

John’s attention to detail and passion for his craft made our dinner conversations technical and educational. Outside of work, he enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, and hobby farming “back in the day.” In recent years, he enjoyed coin collecting, playing cards, doing puzzles, and the occasional trip to the casino. He had a lifelong love of books and family history. Above all else, John was a family man. As his daughters, he couldn’t have loved us more. But wait…then came the granddaughters, Madison Marie and Emerson Kate. They stole their grandpa’s heart and he theirs’. Along with Donna, they attended every performance, recital and event of their granddaughters. John was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Donna. In his 83 years, he had a heart of gold and although we are heartbroken at our loss, we are blessed to have had him as long as we did.

A visitation for John will take place on Friday, February 2, 2024 from 4 to 7 pm at Williamson-White Funeral Home in Amery, Wisconsin. The funeral service will take place at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at Elim Lutheran Church in Range, WI with a visitation beginning one hour prior at the church. Interment will take place afterwards at East Lincoln Cemetery in Amery.

Last Update: Jan 30, 2024 1:49 pm CST