John William Edelblute III

John William Edelblute III of Hartford passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children, on Monday, March 11, 2024. He was born son of John William, Jr. and Geraldine (Suhr) Edelblute on May 31, 1938, in Milwaukee, WI. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. John served as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for six years earning the rank of Specialist E-5. Throughout his professional career, John was a member of personnel and sales management at several companies and retired as a general manager in the manufacturing industry.  He was a life-long outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting deer and waterfowl throughout WI, the U.S., and abroad, belonging to many clubs throughout his life. John was passionate about nature, wildlife, and conservation. He joined the Daniel Boone Conservation League in 1961, serving in multiple roles including club President and other officer positions, board and committee member, and competed in many trap and skeet shooting leagues. John earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Aspects of Conservation from UW-Milwaukee in 1968. He was elected to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress in 1975 where he served for more than 45 years in various leadership roles, including many years on the Migratory Committee, and was named the Delegate of the Year in 2010. John was also an ardent supporter of gun safety, teaching hunter’s safety classes to thousands of Washington County residents for over 20 years. 

John is survived by his six children, John W. (Sam) Edelblute IV, Allison (Brendan) O’Neill, Ann Edelblute, Eric Edelblute, Jill Edelblute, and Susan (Stephen) McDermott, along with his four grandsons Liam, Declan, Casey, and Bradley. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbors, hunting buddies, and friends he made as a life-long resident of WI, 60+ year resident of the Druid Lake community, member of St. Mary of the Hill Parish, and various clubs. John was preceded in death by his parents John and Geraldine, brother Lyle, sister Meredith, and beloved wives Kathleen (Larsen) in 1972 and Carol Ann (Wolf) in 2013.

The family would like to thank “Team John” (Patty, Polly, Mary Jo, Jean, Kara, and Amy), members of the Brookdale Memory Care team, Always Best Care, Brighton Hospice, neighbors, and friends who supported and cared for John the last 2.5 years.

Visitation is Friday, March 15, 2024, from 4-8 p.m. at the Berndt Ledesma Funeral -Hartford, 226 S. Main Street, Hartford and Saturday March 16, from 11am -12:15 p.m.  Morning Prayers at 12:15 p.m.  Mass of Resurrection will follow at the Chapel of St. Therese, second level at the Basilica at Holy Hill, at 1:00 p.m.  Interment St. Mary of the Hill Cemetery.  Memorials to St. Mary of the Hill Parish or the Daniel Boone Conservation League Scholarship fund (for students majoring in conservation or environmental studies) would be appreciated.

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