John "Jack" Christoph

Of Waupaca, age 92, passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side on Friday, November 28, 2025. He was born in Waupaca on August 19, 1933 to the late Horace and Edna (Hesselman) Christoph. Jack served in the U.S. Army in the mid-1950's as a military policeman in Japan. After his military service, he learned to fly, earned his private pilot license, and bought himself a Taylorcraft airplane. He got a job with the Soo Line Railroad, where he worked as a signal maintainer for 37 years. On September 17, 1960 he married Christel Anderson. They enjoyed 60 years together. Early in his married life, he built a cottage on a lake near Rhinelander, where he spent weekends and summers with his family. He attended Farmington Lutheran Church with his wife, Christel. She preceded him in death on August 23, 2020. Jack's passion was hunting and fishing. His life revolved around those pastimes. White bass in the spring; northern, musky, walleye, and pan fish in the summer; ice fishing and sturgeon spearing during the winter. Hunting season lasted all fall and included: turkey, geese, ducks, squirrel, and deer. He also took pleasure in picking berries, apples, and asparagus; and gathering hickory nuts, black walnuts, and acorns. Jack lived a very social life. He had a wide circle of friends and coffee shop buddies.

After retirement he kept busy in the kitchen baking cakes, dog treats, horse biscuits, and COOKIES! He was known by many people around town as the "Cookie Man." He also, cooked daily, making big kettles of soup, chili, roasts, meatloaf, and many other meat-centric entrees. He always made plenty extra of everything to share with friends and family. Food was his love language, and he loved lavishly with it. Jack lived independently and remained mentally sharp throughout his long life. Even just a few days prior to his passing, he was deer hunting, butchering deer, and playing Scrabble, a game he loved playing daily with his daughters. On his last day, he baked cookies and roasted a homegrown chicken for the family's Thanksgiving dinner.

He will be dearly missed by his daughters: Cherie Christoph and Julie (James) Johnston; his grandsons: Aaron (Miriam) Johnston and Ryan (Alexis) Johnston; his great-granddaughter Ophelia Christel; other relatives and many friends. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, James (Geraldine) Christoph.

There will be no services at this time.