Name: Visitation for John Anton Stauffacher
Start: 2022-02-01T15:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-02-01T17:00:00.000Z
Location: ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH

Stauffacher, John Anton

MADISON - John Anton [ya%]Stauffacher, age 89, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Sylvan Crossing Fitchburg. He was born on Sept. 12, 1932, in Darlington, the son of John and Maybelle (Amenda) Stauffacher. He was united in marriage to Catherine Carey on Aug. 22, 1959, in Mineral Point, Wis.
John graduated from Darlington High School in 1950 and then joined the U.S. Navy for four years from 1950-1954. He graduated from UW-Platteville in 1959 and then began his teaching and coaching career. "Coach" taught at St. Gregory's High School in St. Nazianz from 1959-1964 and Queen of Apostles High School in Madison from 1964-1978. He taught biology, introductory science and agriculture and coached football and basketball. John retired in 1978 and started his next career in building Exel Inn Motels with his brother, Dave and family. He retired from Exel Inns to do all of the things he loved to do.
John loved bowling at Dream Lanes with his MARBA friends and golfing with his MARGA friends. He was an avid Chicago Bears fan and loved watching the Wisconsin Badgers football and basketball games. John went to church daily and prayed the rosary. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Catherine; children, Marcia (Robin) Goldberg, Greg (Cheryl) Stauffacher, Kara (Scott) Hellenbrand and John Stauffacher; grandchildren, Megan and Reid Goldberg, Drew (Kari) Stauffacher, Katlyn (Cole) Jones, Payton and Brooklyn Hellenbrand, and Mia and Alex Stauffacher; great-grandchildren, Jordee and Deacon Jones; brothers, David (Pat) and Paul (Kate); sister, Mary Steiger; in-laws, John and Mary Schmitz, Ruth and Eugene Pascoe, Ron and Judy Scullion and Barbara Hill; many nieces and nephews and other family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gerald (Marcella) and Peter; brother-in-law, Terence Steiger; and in-laws, Dale Carey, Joanne (Frank) Zaffino and Helen (Francis) Basting.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. Family and friends who wish to view the Mass via LIVE STREAM may visit John's obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday. A private burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens.
Memorials may be gifted in John's name to the Alzheimer's Association or St. Dennis Catholic Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Madison.com on Jan. 30, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for John Stauffacher

Sponsored by Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison/Monona.

4 Entries

Craig Handel

April 5, 2025

Hi, I just wanted to share my sympathies. My name is Craig Handel. In 1979, I interviewed coach for a story that appeared in The Capital Times. It was my story in a daily newspaper and has led to a career of writing stories and now books. My high school, Deerfield, was in the Eastern Suburban Conference with Madison Queen of Apostles. I interviewed Mr. Stauffacher because he left coaching to get into the hotel business. He was most gracious with his time and was open to me doing a follow-up interivew. I still have the story. My picture was included with the feature.

Mike and Lynn Kohrs

February 1, 2022

Please accept our sympathy. Coach was very important in my development. I remember one time when our team was not playing together well, he had us sit down and basically said he did not care if we won or lost (although winning was much more fun) but that he wanted us to put our best selves forward and take the results. He always tried to bring out our best both on the court and in the classroom and we are grateful for that.