John Stephen Kellner

John Stephen Kellner, age 80 of Sturgeon Bay and Sheboygan, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025, with his family by his side.

He was born on August 7, 1945, to the late Frank Jr. and Margaret (Pleck) Kellner in Sturgeon Bay. He was a 1963 graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School. After high school, he attended UW-Stevens Point for a semester but could not bear to be away from his high school sweetheart, Sharon Fictum. On April 24, 1965, John was united in marriage to Sharon at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay.

John lived a life of faith in service, rooted in his love for Christ. He was a lector and distributor for St. Paul's Catholic Parish in Fish Creek, and later at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Maplewood. He delivered communion to shut-ins, bringing the word of Christ to those who could not attend church in person. John also served in various leadership roles in the Boy Scouts of America at the district and troop levels and participated in the Order of the Arrow. John was a lifetime member of the Wisconsin Speleological Society where he worked with the group to improve landowner relations and educate the public about the beauty and science behind Wisconsin's caves. He served on the Gibraltar Town Board and the Gibraltar Volunteer Fire Department and enjoyed riding motorcycles with his friends in the Recyclists Motorcycle Club. John's life of service extended beyond these structured groups into his everyday life. He was first to lend a helping hand to his family, friends, and neighbors, and was fondly known as the "Angel Snow Removal Service" for helping his elderly neighbors in the winter months for as long as his body would allow.

John was not defined by his careers but continued his life of service with every position he held. When John and Sharon first married, they ran the Holiday Motel in Sturgeon Bay, where they discovered their love for sharing the beauty of their community with visitors to Door County. As their family expanded, John worked as a lineman for the Sturgeon Bay Utilities, bringing power to residents during storms and through service expansions. John and Sharon missed their time with visitors to Door County and purchased the Dawn Breaker Lodge in Fish Creek in 1982, growing it into the Twin Oaks Country Lodge, where they continued to share their love for the Door Peninsula with guests from all over the world until 1994. During that time, John also worked as a bus driver and janitor for the Gibraltar Area School District until his retirement in 2012. After retirement, John and Sharon moved to Sheboygan to live with their grandchildren until their battles with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's brought them back to their much-missed hometown of Sturgeon Bay in 2024.

John loved the outdoors, and spent his free time camping, hiking, bicycling, skiing, photographing nature, riding motorcycles, caving, and traveling with his family and friends throughout the Midwest. John's favorite place on earth was the land he and Sharon purchased in southern Door County in 1968, which is the location of Paradise Pit, one of Wisconsin's longest and most unique caves. He spent decades working with family and his friends at the Speleological Society to expand and preserve the cave and the hardwood forest surrounding it. He was dedicated to conservation and worked tirelessly to create this haven that his family enjoys still. His love for all things outdoors was passed on to his children and grandchildren, who continue to share in his passion for these activities in their daily lives.

John was known for his sense of humor, real-world problem solving, and tireless dedication to helping those he loved. His quick wit, booming voice, and ability to look at any challenge with an eye for unique solutions will be sorely missed by all those who loved him most.

Special thanks go out to the staff at Bayview Senior Care and Unity Hospice for their dedication to his care, to Huehn's Funeral Home for their compassion and assistance during this loss, and to Deacon Mark Hibbs for bringing him God's word while he was confined at Bayview.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Sharon; children, Todd (partner Robin Hansen) Kellner of Peshtigo, and Sara (partner Ben Anschutz) Kellner of Bailey's Harbor and Sheboygan; grandchildren Gabe Butler, Nolan Thiel, and Madilyn Thiel; sister Barbara Shreve of Madison; and sister-in-law Jan (Dolittle) Kellner of South Carolina. He is further survived by other relatives and friends.

John is preceded in death by his parents; siblings Frank (Fritz) Kellner and Kathy Schmidt; and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held for John on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Maplewood with Fr. William Brunner officiating. A visitation will be held at church from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Monday.

Expressions of sympathy, memories, photos, or other celebrations or acknowledgments of John's life may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.