John W. Barnish

John Wayne Barnish, 83, of Hartland, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Born on January 4, 1943, in Portage, WI to Milton Joseph “Joe” and Olive Barnish. John grew up in Pardeeville, where he developed his unwavering dedication to family, his love of tradition, and his down-to-earth Wisconsin spirit.

John met the love of his life, Joyce, while working a summer job at a canning factory in Cambria, WI. The two married in 1968, built their home in Hartland and raised three children — David, Daniel and Diane.

He proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard and later followed in his father’s footsteps as a civil engineer for the Milwaukee Road Railroad for 17 years. John went on to work at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for more than 18 years, alongside his beloved wife, Joyce.

Outside of work, John had a lifelong passion for trains and classic cars. He enjoyed attending car shows, displaying his classic cars, collecting model trains, and carefully building and maintaining his treasured model train village.

John was a devoted fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, and Wisconsin Badgers, and he rarely missed an episode of Wheel of Fortune or Family Feud. When he wasn't cheering on his favorite teams, he could often be found reading the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the porch or relaxing in his lawn chair in his garage, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine while waving to neighbors passing by, usually wearing one of his many Badgers or Packers shirts.

Affectionately known as “the Boss,” John brought a sense of fun and gentle guidance to those around him, especially his children and grandchildren. Whether he was giving instructions on how to mow the lawn, showing the right way to wash and park the car, or tackling a household project, John had his own special way of doing things —always with patience, humor and a soft-spoken kindness that made him unforgettable.

John cherished family traditions, both big and small. From enjoying a pre-game tailgate at Packers games to celebrating birthdays and anniversaries with hibachi dinners, he found joy in the simple moments spent with those he loved most.

Above all, John was a family man. His love, dedication, hard work ethic and presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

John Wayne Barnish is survived by his loving wife of 58 years: Joyce; children: David Barnish (Jennifer), Daniel Barnish (Holly), and Diane Fleischmann (Eric); grandchildren: Alex, Elizabeth, Charles, Kyle, Jacob, Colin, and Zachary. He was preceded in death by his parents Milton “Joe” and Olive Barnish; and siblings Coral Barnish-Madsen and Merton Barnish.

A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church located at N50 W35181 E Wisconsin Ave in Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m., with lunch to follow. John will be laid to rest at Randolph Cemetery in Randolph, WI.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in John's memory to the American Cancer Society.