Obit: Gullixson, John Walther (1940 - 2007)

Contact: Kipp Kippenhan
Email: hak_jr@live.com

Surnames: Gullixson, Rossing, Skarperud, Schwarze, Chen, Shimizu, Ma, Porterfield, Laudon, Rideout

----Sources: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) April 18, 2007

Gullixson, John Walther (1 July 1940 - 16 April 2007)

MADISON - John Walther Gullixson, age 66, passed away on Monday, April 16, 2007, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson Hospice Care Center after a long and valiant fight against cancer. On this day, he finally received his wish for a "new body" through the grace of God.

John was born on July 1, 1940, in Chicago, Ill., the son of George Andrew Rossing and Alvira (Skarperud) Gullixson. John grew up at Western Koshkonong, where his father was a pastor and where he attended Western Koshkonong Lutheran School. He graduated from Stoughton High School in 1957 and from Bethany Lutheran College in 1959.

Following college, John enlisted in the service, where he served honorably for more than 25 years in the Air National Guard Reserves until his retirement in 1989. Shortly after enlisting in the service, John also pursued a career in the elevator industry. He worked for Westinghouse, later Schindler Elevator Company, for more than 40 years, retiring to devote his full energies to dealing with his illness. John and his wife Lila (Schwarze of Greenwood, Clark Co., Wisconsin) were united in marriage on July 19, 1969, in Stavanger, Norway.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lila; his four children, Kirsten (Weizhong Ma), Kari (Shigeru Shimizu), Lisa (Ozzyie) Chen and Jon; two young grandchildren, Charlotte Chen and Masa Shimizu; as well as a brother, Andrew (Doris); two sisters, Miriam (Lloyd) Porterfield and Ann (Walter) Laudon; and his sister-in-law, June (Eugene "Tim" Rideout). He is also survived by many close friends and other family members, including aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; and by two of his brothers, George and David.

John was well loved in the Madison community, not only through his broad connections through work, but also as a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, the Dane County Grieg Male Chorus, and the Sons of Norway. John enjoyed many years of singing with his good friends in the Grieg Chorus and in the church choir. He often participated in the Sons of Norway lutefisk dinners and other events. His hobbies included fishing, train travel, and cross-country skiing (taking part in several Birkebeiner races in his later years).

A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2007, at HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2670 Milwaukee St., with the burial to follow at Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2007, at CRESS FUNERAL HOME on East Washington Ave. in Madison, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service on Saturday at HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN in Madison.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Hospice Care, or donor's choice. John and his family are deeply grateful for all of the support from others throughout his illness.