John Kingsley Wright

John Kingsley Wright, 81, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday morning January 21, 2025.

John was born in Palm Beach, Florida November 3, 1943, to Elizabeth (Jenkins) Wright of Andover Massachusetts and Sterling Wright of Saxons River Vermont, where Sterling was serving in the Unites States Army. The family relocated to Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts in 1948 where they lived amongst a wonderful community for many years and welcomed Peter and Kenneth to the family.

John graduated from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls in June 1961, he was an Eagle Scout, played basketball and French Horn and held his first job delivering packages for 10cents a package. His summer job was working for New England Power Company on the hydroelectric plant development. John completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 1966. While at WPI he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). 

John was hired by Stauffer Chemical Company, New York City for the handsome sum of $675 a month, he recalled he felt he was going to live, “high off of the hog”. A lovely new teletypist started at the company soon after, Sandra Johnson. The watercooler chatter was that each of the eligible bachelors from the office were going to “get her”, John took action and took the love of his life (his Queen) to dinner, and they fell in love.

In August 1967, John reported to Fort Dix, New Jersey for active duty as a Lieutenant and received his orders for stateside duty. Shortly after he was issued new orders and “walked the longest 100 yards in my life back to headquarters”. John was stationed in Zweibreken, Germany as a Quartermaster and married Sandra, (despite not asking his commanding officers’ permission per Army regulations, Ooops) November 9, 1967. Daughter Heather (Evenson) was born, and John was honorably discharged April 1969; the family returned to the states to live in Connecticut John recalled their possessions were “Heather, a set of crystal, an English pram and the Buick Opel Car”. Son Robert was welcomed into the world a few years later. John returned to Stauffer Chemical where he worked as a Marketing Manager until 1986.

The most important place in John’s life was the vacation home at Lake Raponda, Vermont. No TV, no phone, good friends, skiing every weekend, swimming and waterskiing all summer. The family car travels on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons shared Boy Scout Songs, a love for Neil Diamond and simple, happy car games. “Vermont was the best thing that ever happened to our family” John stated with nostalgia.

In 1986, the family relocated to the wonderful community of Fond du Lac (FDL) where John took a position with Galloway West as Vice President of Sales and Marketing until he retired in 1996 and his love of the FDL community started to reap the benefits of his civicism, charity and volunteerism.

John assumed a new position as Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin FDL Foundation and began his legacy of giving back and supporting education. An active Rotarian, Paul Harris Award recipient and past president of the Noon Rotary, “Service Above Self” was inherent in all actions, especially Bell Ringing for Salvation Army each year int the cold. In 2018, John was honored with the “Spirit of Excellence Award” for his work in the community. John was active within the Senior Center and taught a genealogy class until his passing.

John served in the United Way campaigns, sat on the boards of the Lutheran Home and Rienzi Cemetery and was a member of Fondy 100 Gives. John and Sandie have numerous scholarships throughout the local community as they felt education was paramount and wanted to help people in whatever way they could.

John and his love, Sandie were passionate about Broadway musicals and plays, concerts of all genres and international travel. Together they traveled to over 30 countries and all 50 states with friends and family. The day before Johns passing, he recalled his most favorite trip to Normandy and Germany with Heather and Robert calling it, “the trip of a lifetime”. 

John was an avid snowmobiler, often covering hundreds of miles in a day with the Fond du Lac Snowflyers and his longtime friends. He was an accomplished woodworker in hand dove tailed hardwood furniture, garden décor and signs. Many donated for auction in fundraisers. John played golf frequently and had a nasty slice he could never correct but the 19th hole with friends made it easier to go back the next day. John enjoyed his Wednesday lunches with the “guys” and Thursday “Mens Night” outings. He was always on his way somewhere.

John always had a smile, saw the best in every situation, taught his children to be kind and value what they had in life. John was cheery and thoughtful, generous and patient (except with technology) and lived each day of life perhaps not knowing the profound impact his life made, he was not a selfish or self-centered man, he only wanted to lead by example. We are following, Dad, as are so many you have impacted.

John is survived by his daughter Heather (Tim) Evenson, of Fond du Lac, son Robert (Holly) Wright of Middleton, WI, brothers Peter (Becky) of Guilford, New Hampshire, Kenneth (Carolyn) Wright of South Sutton, New Hampshire and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank SSM St Agnes caregivers, providers, Home Infusion and Harbor Haven for their excellence in care and compassion.

Visitation will take place on Friday, January 24th, 2025, from 4-7 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. A memorial service will take place at 7:00 pm. Private internment Saturday, January 25th, Rienzi Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to: “John K. Wright Scholarship”, Moraine Park Technical College Foundation, 235 N. National Ave, FDL, WI, 54935 OR the Fond du Lac Area Foundation “John and Sandie Wright Scholarship Fund”, 1020 S. Main St Suite E, FDL, 54935.