John Henry Sime

1952 - 2025

John Henry Sime

January 17, 1952 - November 17, 2025

John Henry Sime, 73 years old, passed away at home on Monday, November 17, 2025. He was born on Thursday, January 17, 1952, at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua, Wisconsin, to Henry and Lottie (Quinn) Sime. He married Janice Dull Perkins at the Sugar Grove Church of Christ on January 16, 1984.

He was baptized at South Kickapoo Lutheran Church at Folsom in 1952 and was confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Readstown in 1966.

He graduated from Readstown Grade School in 1966, Kickapoo High School in 1970, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature. In 1976 he earned a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature. In 1980 he graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, Kentucky.

He served in the United States Peace Corps from 1976 to 1978 as a teacher of English at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Bamako, Mali, the national teachers college of that West African nation. There, in addition to teaching classes, he supervised student teachers and supervised the writing of memoirs by seniors. He was employed by the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown from 1978 to 1996, when he became the owner and operator, a position he held until his retirement in 2019.

He was the founder of the Readstown Library and served as its board president for many years. He was also the first secretary/treasurer of the Readstown Housing for the Elderly, Inc., serving in that capacity for many years. He had also been the secretary of Peace Lutheran Church. He helped organize the Readstown Historical Society and served as its president for a number of years. He opened the Historical Society Museum to the public every Thursday.

He was once president of the Western Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association. He served on the board of Associates to Restore the Temple Theatre in Viroqua, WI. He was a longtime member of the LaBelle Lodge #84 in Viroqua and served twice as its Worshipful Master. He was also a member of the Soldiers Grove Lions Club, the Vernon Shrine Club, and the Zor Shrine in Madison, WI. He was a longtime member of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of U.W.–Madison, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. At one time he was the Head Sysop of the CompuServe U.F.O. Forum.

John was a published author of several books, poetry, and historical works, accomplishments he held with great pride. After selling the funeral home, he created his beloved "bunkhouse," a warm and quiet place where he spent much of his time writing and reading. In 2003, he returned to West Africa, a journey that meant a great deal to him. In the fall of 2022, he hosted a reunion with his Peace Corps family here in Wisconsin, a gathering he had planned for several years. After he became ill with COVID and never made a full recovery, he worried he might not be able to host the event, but he was, and he cherished every moment of showing them the Wisconsin places he loved, especially the Driftless. John had a deep affection for animals, particularly his horse and cats. He was generous to a fault and cared for every family he had the privilege to serve as if they were his own.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jan, of Readstown; Jan's son, Garrett (Mary) Perkins of Cassville, WI; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law C.J. (Helen) Dull of Moberly, MO, and sister-in-law Thelma Dull of Waupun, WI; and his Funeral Director Apprentice Kasie Moran and her children Elizabeth, Bea, Taemin, and Amirison John Henry, all of Soldiers Grove, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother- and father-in-law, Clifford and Olive (McKittrick) Dull; and a brother-in-law, La Verne Dull.

Jan would like to thank Jahsea Calkins owner of Here For You Elderly Care; Livhe Chamberlain; Readstown Emergency Medical Service; and St Croix Hospice for the excellent care that allowed John to stay in his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Peace Lutheran Church in Readstown. Pastor Carrie Anderson will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m., until 7:00 p.m., on Friday, November 21st at Sime Funeral Home in Readstown. A Masonic Service will follow. Additional visitation will be held Saturday at the church from Noon until the time of the service. Burial will follow in the Readstown Cemetery. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.vossfh.com.