DOUSMAN, Wis. — John A. Orner passed away peacefully at home on March 7^th, 2025, at the age of 86. John was born in Rochelle, IL May 26^th, 1938. He was preceded in death by his father Edwin John Orner, mother Mary Laura Davis Orner and older brother James (Jim) Davis Orner. He is survived by his wife Ann Thomas Orner (married for 59 and a half years), three sons, John T.  (Deb) , Thomas E. (Julie) , and Peter J. (Michelle), grandchildren David, Josh, Jessie, Hannah, Abby, and Charlie, and one great grandson Danny.

 John moved to Milwaukee after high school and graduated from Milwaukee School of Engineering with degrees in Electrical engineering and Industrial Management. After school he served in the U.S. Army reserves Signal Corp and in the U.S. Army Security Agency.

 John had great interests in the outdoors as he fished and hunted with his father in Illinois, core pastimes that he passed down to his children and several of his grandchildren. He received a diploma in taxidermy but did not pursue a career in this field. He became interested in radio at an early age and received his amateur HAM radio license (call sign W9BQK) in 1953 which he enjoyed as a hobby throughout his entire life. He once received an honorable citation from the Coast Guard after a ship that lost its communication off the coast of California could not establish contact until reaching John on his ham radio who then alerted the Coast Guard. His background in radio communications paved the way to a career working for Motorola Inc., Director of Engineering and Operations for Cellular One and then U.S. Cellular – Milwaukee. Under his management he enabled the first cellular network systems in the Milwaukee area. He could frequently be found in his shop as he was a smart ‘fixer-upper’ and could repair almost anything.

 John loved to fish and hunt with his three sons and grandkids in Eau Claire County Wisconsin where he and his wife have a cabin on Lake Eau Claire and his sons who have a hunting cabin in the woods nearby. He relished spending time with wife Ann, family and friends at the picnic table enjoying the scenic views overlooking the lake.

Thank you goes To Aurora Hospital Summit Vince Lombardi Cancer Center and Aurora Hospice.

In lieu of flowers John’s wish was for family and friends to please donate to the Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church Dousman, WI (https://www.highviewepc.org/about-our-church/)   or Lake Eau Claire Association (https://www.lakeeauclaire.org/lec-association/donate-now).

Funeral services for John will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 with memorial gathering and visitation from 10:00AM until the time of service at 12:00 (noon) at Highview Presbyterian Church (S50W33042 Town GE, Dousman, WI).

For those unable to attend, those wishing to share a memory or those wanting to just sign the on-line guest registry, please go to: www.thelenfh.com.  Thelen Funeral Services of North Prairie/Genesee is honored to be assisting the family.  262-392-4251