John W. Lydon

John William Lydon was born to Everett and Margaret (Schumacher) Lydon June 30, 1939, in Kendall, Wisconsin. John attended and graduated from Kendall High School.

     He married Carolyn Zellmer on July 11, 1959 and they were blessed with five children.  He leaves a legacy of a loving family, many friendships and a successful business that he shared with his sons. John’s sincere and honest approach in business rewarded him with many contractors that he called friends.  He was a man of strong virtue who did a lot of things in the background without much fanfare.

     John is survived by his wife and soulmate, Carolyn; his children, William (Karen) Lydon, Kathy (Scott) Clark, Robert (Jennifer) Lydon, Dawn (Wayne) Pieper and Kelly (Jorge) Hernandez; eleven grandchildren, Joshua (Cynthia) Lydon, Garett Lydon, Anna (Dustin) Arttus, Jonathon (Amanda) Clark, Katelynn (Matt) Pogorzelski, Brandon (Heidi Schmitz) Lydon, Emily (Ben Schaitel) Lydon, Zachary Lydon, Hayden Pieper, Hannah Pieper and Francisco Hernandez; eleven great-grandchildren, Addyson, Evan, Livianna, Peyton, Maliyah, Camden, Benjamin, Weston, June, Quinn, and Karalynn. He is further survived by his sister, Joanne Kainz; brother-in-law, Dick (Jan) Zellmer; sisters-in-law, Karen Lydon and Bernice Zellmer; many nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and dear friends.

     John passed away peacefully, holding the hand of his wife and best friend, on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Rochester, MN, at the age of 77 years and 342 days.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Margaret Lydon; brother, James Lydon; sisters-in-law, Celesta Zellmer, Evelyn Zellmer, Gwen Zellmer, Lila Bernhardt, Lois Kroeger, and Nancy Zellmer; brothers-in-law, John Zellmer, Bill Zellmer, Dorwin Bernhardt, Darwin Kroeger, Darrel (Jake) Zellmer and Chuck Zellmer.

     A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta, with Father Keith Kitzhaber officiating.  A Celebration of John’s life will continue at Jake’s Northwoods immediately following the mass. A private burial service at the Farmers Valley Cemetery will be held at a later date. 

     The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with arrangements. 

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