John Banna

Banna, John J. 84, Wind Lake, died Nov. 23, 2007 at his home. He was born on Jan. 31, 1923 in Milwaukee, to the late Paul and Katherine (Mueller) Banna. He spent his early life in South Milwaukee. He moved to Union Grove and attended high school until his mother’s death at sixteen. He and his father then moved to Milwaukee where he graduated from Pulaski High School in 1941. After graduation, John enlisted in the Army Air Corps, served with the 480th Air Service Group in Central Europe and in the Rhineland and honorably discharged on Sep 2, 1945. He was co-owner of Wind Lake Construction Company and later attended MATC, receiving a high-pressure boiler operator license. John was later employed by and retired from Southeast Wisconsin Products in 1987. John served, as Grand Knight in The Knights of Columbus Council of Lakes 6486, St. Vincent de Paul Society, was a Charter member of St. Clare Church in Wind Lake and served on the church Men’s Society and Human Concerns Committee. He was also a professed Secular Franciscan. One of the things he especially enjoyed giving his time to was delivering Meals on Wheels. His dedication to his country continued with services as 4th District Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Commander of VFW Post 8343, Commander of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Twin County Chapter 34 and Seam Squirrel of the Cooties Pup Tent 8. He served his community as an appointee to the Racine County Area Council on Aging and Board member of the Tri-County Committee on Aging. John is survived by Rosaline (nee. Bartkowiak), his wife of 60 years, 7 daughters; Katherine (Lee Amann) Banna, Barbara (Nick) Williams, Mary Beth (Albert “Mik”) Kafka, Paulette (Malcom) Fowlie, Denise, Susan, and Ellen (Rick) Anderson-Kieffer. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren: Jessica, Martha, Mary, John, Kevin, Traci, Jacob, Rachel, Erick, Pearl, Matthew, Daniel, Amber, Alexander, Andrea, Chase, and Emily and 12 great-grandchildren. Page 1 of (2) Visitation and Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on November 27th at St. Clare’s Catholic Church in Wind Lake. Very Reverend John Hemsing Officiated. A committal service with Military honors will take place Friday November 30th at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery - 21731 Spring Street (Hwy C) Union Grove in the chapel at 11:30 A.M. Memorials are suggested by the family to the St. Clare Parish Building Fund – 7616 Fritz Street, Wind Lake, Wisconsin 53185 Mealy Funeral Home Waterford, Wisconsin 262-534-2233 www.mealyfuneralhome.com