John W. Mominee

Platteville - John Wayne Mominee, 82, of Platteville, Wisconsin, passed away on August 24 with cancer.

John was born on January 5, 1943, in Evansville, Indiana, to Abba Ella Gibson and Glen Ralph Mominee. He was lovingly raised by his mother and stepfather, Donald Kenneth Merritt - his fishing partner and lifelong role model.

Growing up in Evansville surrounded by grandparents and extended family, John developed a deep love for the outdoors and sports. In eighth grade, he broke the record for the 100-yard dash, a record that still stands today. A standout athlete at North High School, he was a football star and, along with teammate Madriaga, earned the nickname "The Galloping Ghosts" of the Huskies. Outside of school, John's adventurous spirit shone through legendary escapades with his best friend, Jimmy Carter, snorkeling in the "stripper pits."

The first in his family to attend college, John graduated from Evansville College with a Bachelor Of Arts degree and went on to earn a Master Of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. In College, he worked at the Evansville Courier And Press covering sports with Larry Stevenson. During this time, he was a proud member of Lambda Chi and spent summers as a counselor at Camp Carson in Princeton, Indiana, where he was known for his sense of humor and playful antics - often dressing up as superheroes with fellow counselors.

Along with Bob and Patty Carter, John and his wife Janet (Brinkley) owned a picture framing business next to the, "Forget-Me-Not-Inn." When not working at, "The Framehouse," John and fellow artist Mike Helton would be busy silk screening t-shirts in the garage to sell. They always had plenty of customers after hours coming from the bar!

John was a man of many talents. He was a gifted musician who played guitar, banjo, and harmonica, and he sang in a folk band called The Fortunes with friends Bobby, Phil, Sonny, and Fred. The group opened for acts such as Jan & Dean and The Brothers Four and performed at several popular hootenannies. John's rendition of his favorite song, "Four Strong Winds," was especially beloved.

In his early career, John taught art at Southern Illinois University (1965 - 1967), the University Of Evansville (1967 -1970), and Austin Peay University in Clarksville, Tennessee (1971 - 1977). He taught a wide range of courses, including drawing, painting, printmaking, pottery, and art history. His close friendship with art mentor Max Hochstetler helped shape his teaching career.

In 1980, John joined the University Of Wisconsin-Platteville as Artist-In-Residence and Gallery Director. This is when he met Bud Wall, his partner in crime. Two years later, he became Director of The Center For The Arts and The Harry Nohr Gallery. John served on numerous boards, including the Wisconsin Academy Of Sciences, Arts and Letters; the Wisconsin Art Board; and the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. In 1993, he was given additional responsibility as Director of The Student Center. After years of leadership and dedication, John retired in 1994 to focus full time on his art.

As a professional artist, John specialized in monoprints that were sold nationwide. His work was featured in galleries across the country and included in major corporate and institutional collections, such as Johnson Wax, Price Waterhouse, Oscar Mayer, Miller Brewing Company, UW-Madison, as well as numerous hotels, hospitals, and restaurants. In 2012, his contributions to the arts were honored in the book, "100 Artists Of The Midwest."

Beyond his professional achievements, John was a devoted husband, father, and friend. He loved sports and coached his son's Little League team alongside Bob Reese. He had an easy laugh, a passion for music, an eye for antiques and a love of movies (He was an extra in "Field Of Dreams"). He especially enjoyed gardening with his little sister, Brenda Jones (Merritt) - they shared tips, ideas, and endless laughter.

Travel was another great joy. John and Janet cherished trips to Europe, including adventures with his sister Abba Jean and her husband Don Graf, and later with sister-in-law Jill Brinkley. The memories from those trips are priceless. For John's 80th birthday, he and Janet, along with friends Andrew and Paula Baummann, traveled to the Detroit Institute Of Art for a special Van Gogh exhibit and also saw the Diego Rivera murals.

John is survived by his wife, Janet; children Jamie Bradley (Peter), Jon Scott Mominee, and Jay Mominee; grandchildren Cameron Bradley, Hattie Finn, and Ellis John Mominee; and great-grandchildren Zane Barber, Solstice Finn, and Forest Finn. He is also survived by his sisters, his health mentor Kelly Logan, nieces, nephews, cousins, and sister-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather.

Burial will take place at Park Lawn Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John's name to YMCA Camp Carson in Princeton, Indiana (carsonoffice@campcarson.org).

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jeff White, the staff at Medical Associates and Southwest Health Center, St. Croix Hospice, and the exceptional nurses and physical therapists who cared for John.