HORTONVILLE, WIS.
John Arnold Moeller, 81, of Hortonville, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully March 13, 2018 at his home.
John was born to the late Arnold and Verna (Dobbratz) Moeller in West Bend, Wisconsin on April 12, 1936.
John graduated from West Bend High School in 1954 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated in 1959, magna cum laude, first in his class of Civil Engineering, first in the Naval ROTC program and was elected to the Iron Cross Society.
John served his country as an officer in the United States Navy at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and in the Navy Reserve.
He married Anita Luise Byde on June 2, 1962 in Carmel, California.
John graduated from Harvard Business School in 1963 with high honors as a Baker Scholar and served in senior executive positions with manufacturing firms in Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee. He led Cosco, Inc. in Columbus, Indiana, for 27 years as president and CEO, tripling the size of the business and leading a successful management buyout.
John returned to Wisconsin to serve as president of Simmons Juvenile Products in New London until his retirement in 1995.
John was a member of Butte des Morts Country Club, enjoyed golf, worldwide travel, Badger sports, Packers football, cold beer and a good argument.
John is survived by his wife of over 55 years, Anita; his children, Eric John Moeller of Gordonsville, Virginia (and his wife Leslie), Mark William Moeller of Minneapolis, Minnesota (and his wife Pamela), Elizabeth Luise Griesbach of College Station, Texas (and her husband Bryan). He also has eight grandchildren, John “Jack” Moeller, Austin Griesbach, Joseph Moeller, Eric Gray Moeller, Bridget Griesbach, Nicholas Moeller, Allicia Moeller and Virginia Moeller.
John is also survived by his sister, Marilyn Holmquist of West Bend and his brother, William Moeller of Scottsdale, Arizona.
John was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Joanne Moeller and brother-in-law, William Holmquist.
The funeral ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Greenville, Wisconsin. Pastor Steve Kline will be officiating. Visitation will take place at Shepherd of the Hills on Friday, March 23, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m. and again from 9:30 a.m. until the service on Saturday. Interment will be at Washington County Memorial Park in West Bend, Wisconsin on Monday, March 26, at 10 a.m. with full military honors.
Shepherd of the Hills was John’s cherished spiritual home and memorial contributions to its building fund would have pleased him more than flowers.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, N1615 Meadowview Drive, Greenville, WI 54942; (920) 757-5722; www.shepherdhills.org.
