John V. Davis, age 87 of Marinette, WI (formerly Appleton, WI) passed away at home December 19, 2013.

Born August 30, 1926 in Watchorn, OK to Glen and Carmen Davis. John was a U.S. Army WWII veteran in the Pacific Theater. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from UW-Madison in 1952 and had a distinguished career as a structural engineer in Appleton, WI. His designs included university buildings, schools, and paper mill facilities throughout Wisconsin and beyond. His precedent-setting roof design for St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee was a cast-concrete hyperbolic paraboloid with no interior supports.

John loved sailing, and sailed on inland lakes, the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, venturing to Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. He and Betty enjoyed traveling in North America and Europe. Their trips inspired many of his watercolor paintings. At home, John was active in the Assoc. for Retarded Children and served as President in Outagamie County. He was also a Special Olympics coach for many years. In 2007 John and Betty moved to Shadow Lake in Waupaca, where they spent summer evenings exploring the lakeshore in their canoe. In 2011 they moved to Marinette, WI where they often strolled on the breakfront and enjoyed inspecting the boats anchored at the marina.

Survived by wife of 63 years, Betty; daughters: Ellen Davis (Mark Klein) Almond, WI, Kathryn Hager (Phil Karjala) Marinette, WI, Susan Davis, St. Paul, MN, Judy Coats, Madison, WI; son Paul, Marinette, WI; grandchildren: Dylan, Noah (Liz), Jackson (Cayetana), Carmen, Garrett and Madison; great-grandchildren Quentin, Tyrese and Mila; brothers, Glen and Ted, and sister Phyllis. Beloved by all for his broad intellect, dry wit and profound devotion to his family, John will be deeply missed.

Memorials preferred to Respite Care of Marinette & Menominee Counties, Inc., PO Box 433, Marinette, WI 54143.