John E. Kirchner, 67, peacefully passed to his heavenly home on November 29, 2022.
John was born on January 8, 1955, to Wesley and Maebelle (Gauthier) Kirchner. He grew up in Oconto, WI with four siblings. He attended St. Joseph's Catholic Grade School and graduated with the Oconto High School class of 1973. John was an awesome big brother, playing football and basketball, going bowling and fishing with his brothers and his dad. He and his father shared a special bond as they both played the trumpet. John was the proud recipient of the John Phillip Sousa award in high school.
On March 26, 1988 he married Linda Gail Nohr. Early on in their marriage they were members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish of Green Bay. There, at St Elizabeth's, John had been involved in many parish activities. Most notable were the organization of many church picnics and overseeing the major church renovation project in 1994. John also volunteered his time teaching CCD classes, was a youth minister and organized a youth worship service there.
Their marriage was blessed with one son, Jacob. Many happy memories are recalled of the time John was Jacob's at home dad as Jacob was age 3 to age 9.
When John returned to the workforce he relied on his education from Northeast Wisconsin Technical School and his extensive experience as he continued his career as a Civil Engineer. He was the Project Construction Manager for many Green Bay and Fox Valley contracts. He retired from AECOM in 2019.
John was a faithful blood donor for many years and then switched to making apheresis donations. He enjoyed fishing, bowling and traveling. He especially loved the time he spent playing golf with his son Jacob.
Family members who survive John are his loving wife, Linda; cherished son, Jacob; his Kirchner brothers, Tom (Joan), Richard (Beth) and Mark (Vicki); and his sister Julie (Rick) Mc Dowell. John is further survived by his special aunt, Sister Mary Jean; aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters-in law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
John's father and mother, Wesley and Maebelle, and in-laws, Norman and Esther Nohr, preceded him to eternity.
Friends may offer comfort and support to John's family at the gathering to celebrate John's life on Monday, December 5, 2022 beginning at 5:00 pm and until 7:00 pm. Prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Celebration will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, 340 S. Monroe Ave, Green Bay, WI.
Sr. Marla Clercx will be officiating.
The memorial service for John can be viewed via live stream here: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY2OTk1NDMzMjIyMjMyMSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==
In lieu of flowers, memorial funds will be directed to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Linda and Jacob are sincerely grateful for all the kindness shown to them. They would like to thank the doctors and nurses who cared for John at St. Vincent's Hospital and the Unity Hospice workers who provided support and comfort to John and to them during John's journey to heaven.
God looked around his garden
And He found an empty place,
He then looked down upon this earth
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest,
God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain,
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw that the road was getting rough
And the hills are hard to climb,
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered "Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn't go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.