John Forrest Thede

John “TOOT” Forrest Thede, age 84, of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026 after a short illness. Born January 19, 1941 in Rochester, Minnesota, son of Pellman and Loa Thede.

John was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Sherril Shaw of Pahrump, Nevada and nephew James Carson of Logandale, Nevada.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marcia (Schlee) Thede and by one son and one daughter, Jeffrey (Amy) of Kaukauna, Wisconsin and Jaci Micke (Kelly) of Hortonville, Wisconsin. John will forever be cherished and remembered by his four grandchildren, Angela Zich, Joshua De Ruyter (Morgan), Derek Thede (and his special friend Heather) Dillon (Liz) Thede, his five great-grandchildren, Bella, Layla, Norah, Harley and Zoey, along with siblings, brother, Steven of Rochester, Minnesota, sisters, Cynthia Svejda (Terry) of Longwood, Florida and Mary Ayshford (Randall) of Byron, Minnesota.

Born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota John attended John Marshall High School where he met the love of his life, Marcia Schlee, after graduating in 1959 the couple were married on August 12, 1960. They moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1964 and eventually made their home and raised their family in Kimberly, Wisconsin. They later moved from the North woods to Kaukauna in 2020.

John, known to family as “Butch,” was a man with a huge personality. A big man with a big heart to match. He had great love for his family and a passion for life. John worked hard all the days of his life holding down a variety of jobs which included construction work as a sheet rocker and also as a worker in a paper mill. Eventually, he worked on the railroad first as a brakeman for the Chicago Northwestern line and then as an engineer for the Canadian National line where he acquired the nickname “ Toot by his railroad buddies. John retired after 32 years on the railroad.

John along with his wife Marcia enjoyed traveling and had many adventures all across the United States. Whether it was on John’s cherry apple red Harley, they fondly called “Big Red,” or by train or car seeing and experiencing new places and meeting new people was great enjoyment for John.

After retirement the couple wintered in the Florida Keys, where John enjoyed boating, fishing, shrimping and always sported the most amazing tan from hours on the water.

During the summer you would find him in northern Wisconsin, near the town of Pickerel. He loved nature and took pride in their lovely home in the woods where he delighted in feeding the wildlife. He could view, sandhill cranes, deer, hummingbirds, raccoons, squirrels, owls, hawks, and even an occasional bear right outside his window.

John also was a skilled woodworker creating a variety of things, including furniture and beautiful garden trellises and towers under his trade name “Knot So Perfect by John Forrest Thede,” though others would disagree and thought John’s talents were indeed perfect.

Yes, John was full of life — a good son, brother, loving husband, father, great-grandfather, and friend to many. Often, loud and bombastic sometimes grumpy, but there was always a sweetness about him that we all knew. Everything that John was will forever be missed and remembered dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2025, at Rose Hill bar and Grill (2206 East Main Street, Kaukauna, Wisconsin). Burial will take place the following week in Groton, South Dakota.

The family would like to thank the medical staff at the Theda Clark Hospital for their compassion and care during John’s final days.