John Sterchi of Buchanan, Tennessee, passed away on July 23 at the age of 87. Born on June 9, 1939 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, John began his career at Louis Allis, later Magnetek, and cherished time with family and friends at his cottage on Long Lake in northern Wisconsin, not far from where he was born. The ultimate do‑it‑yourselfer, he was always fixing or building something in his spare time. For decades, he looked forward to his annual Thanksgiving hunting trip with friends.
Upon retirement, his home in Buchanan, Tennessee became another special gathering place where he and his wife, Margaret, loved welcoming family and friends. John had a gift for making people feel at home and took great joy in creating opportunities for everyone to spend time together, enjoy the outdoors and make lasting memories. His generosity and thoughtfulness were evident in the many ways he provided experiences for others to enjoy and brought people together.
John is survived by his children, Douglas (Rebecca) and Jennifer (Tony); his grandchildren Jack, Samantha, Kate, and Ryan; his sister Helen (Bob) and their children John, Karen, and Jim. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Margaret.
A short, graveside memorial service to honor the lives of both John and Margaret Sterchi will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery (614 E. Howard Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207) on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM CST. Immediately following the service, please join us for a luncheon to celebrate their lives at The Packing House (900 E. Layton Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, where John and Margaret were members for many years.