John D. Rhode, age 86, of Clintonville passed away Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Kindred Hearts in Clintonville.
John David Rhode was born at home on July 16, 1935 in Bear Creek to John and Iva (Ritchie) Rhode. He attended St. Rose Catholic School and Clintonville High School. John entered the U.S. Merchant Marines serving stateside until 1955. He was united in marriage on November 5, 1955 to LauraLee Glockzin at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake, Michigan. He worked as a welder at Oldberg Manufacturing in Grand Haven, MI, for five years. By the early 1960s, John returned to Wisconsin and the couple lived briefly in Leeman, Clintonville, and the Bear Creek area. In the mid 1960s, they settled in the Town of Matteson, Waupaca County. In John’s early days he drove log truck and hauled milk, was employed at FWD in Clintonville, and worked at Wisconsin Tissue Mills in Menasha. In the late 1960s, he started driving semi and was employed by Spector Trucking, Ranger Trucklines, and Schneider National. John soon became an owner and operator driving over the road with Ryder Truck Lines – Ranger Division – for over 20 years, retiring in 1994. John was a longtime member of St. Rose Catholic Church, Clintonville. In his early years, he liked playing the steel guitar and he played on several softball teams. He was a huge Detroit Lions football fan. John also enjoyed the outdoors whether he was smelt fishing, carp spearing, or deer hunting. He was a jack-of-all-trades who could do just about anything. He will be remembered most as a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, LauraLee; and five children, Kimberli (friend George Gurrola Castellano) Havok of Seattle, WA, Steven (friend Julie Kern) Rhode of Clintonville, Juan (Dawn) Rhode of Clintonville, Patricia (Robert) Pulido of Readfield, and Carla (Mark) Knapp of Bear Creek. There are 12 grandchildren: Robbie (Meredith) Schwietzer, Bernadette (Joseph) Berger, Jason Krueger, Stephanie Grignon, Shawn Rhode, Dustin Rhode, Jackie Durrant, Lindsay (Nathan) Steinke, Melanie (Jeff) Young, Melissa Nelson, Fredrik (Brittany) Knapp, and Allison Knapp. There are 23 great-grandchildren: Celia, Cady, Jessie, Jaeger, Nevaeh, Logan, Vinnie, Livvy, Carmen, Laney, Silvia, Avralena, Isaac, Damon, Lincoln, Ryleigh, Lillian, Zachary, Trevor, Ella, Paige, Peyton, and Warren. There are two great-great-grandchildren, Olivia and Quinn. He is further survived by two sisters, Geraldine (Dennis) Kussmann of Clintonville and Therese (Roger) Mauel of Minnesota; one brother, Daniel Rhode of Appleton; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents; six sisters, Rita (Jim) Johnson, Lorraine (Jim) Long, Elaine (Clifford) Smith, Jeanne (Roy) Downham, Rosemary (Allen) Sasse, and Helen (Jerry) Eastman; and two brothers, James and Thomas Rhode.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, July 26th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church, Clintonville. Fr. Timothy Shillcox, O. Praem officiated and burial followed in the parish cemetery. Military Honors were provided at the cemetery by members of the VFW Post 664, American Legion Post 63, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 63, all of Clintonville. Visitation was held on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of mass at the church. Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville, is assisting with the arrangements. Please go to www.beil-didier.com to sign the online guestbook or to send a card.
Our family wishes to thank all the nurses and staff at Kindred Hearts for the compassionate care given to Dad.