John Sweeney

John Michael Sweeney was born March 20th, 1961 to Janet (Palmer) Sweeney and Darwin Sweeney in Tomahawk, WI. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Tomahawk and afterward Tomahawk High School where he played hockey and football. He went on to attend UW-Oshkosh where he got a degree in Criminal Justice. John started his post collegiate career at Tomahawk Police Department and shortly after moved on to the Oneida County Sheriff's department where he worked from 1985 to 2014.

In 1993, John was recognized by Wisconsin Attorney General Jim Doyle as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. As the Administrator, he was instrumental in the success of NORDEG (North Central Drug Enforcement Group), raising regional funds to suppress narcotics distribution in our community. He was a task force agent with the DEA where he worked extensively with the Wisconsin Division of Narcotics Enforcement to rid our communities of methamphetamine production and laboratories. He completed his Masters in Public Administration at UW Oshkosh, completed training at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA and ended his career as Chief Deputy of Oneida County Sheriff’s Department where he held the position from 1999 until his retirement in 2014.

After his retirement John, along with his wife Scarlet, continued to work her family’s farm in Sugar Camp, WI. They raised cattle, had a blueberry and apple orchard, farm stand, and a Christmas tree farm in the winter. Even in retirement, he continued to consult for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, was a volunteer firefighter at Sugar Camp Fire Department, and was a volunteer Ombudsman for the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve).

He was an active member of St. Kunegunda parish until his passing. In his free time John liked to hunt with his childhood friends at the Fur Coat Lodge, play hockey with his noon-time hockey family in Eagle River, camp with his wife and dogs on Lake Superior, swim in Walters Lake, and spend time with his children and grandchildren. John was known to his children and grandchildren for their many adventures together, including making cheeseburgers over campfires in the woods, fishing on the farm, and being ‘Buppa climbing bean’.

He is survived by his wife Scarlet, his son Michael Sweeney (Brenna), his daughter Kaitlin Sweeney (Cameron McGraw), his grandchildren Ava, Hennessey, and James Sweeney, along with his siblings, Kathy Sweeney (Joerg Kessler), Ann Sweeney, Maria Connemara, Jane Gass (Mark), Jim Sweeney (Muna), and Scarlet's parents Brent Lorbetske, Emeline Nitzel (Dennis) and her siblings Tony Lorbetske (Terri), Kelly Lorbetske (Chris Goland), and Jake Nitzel. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family, and his beloved dog Lionel.

He was preceded in death by his father Darwin Sweeney, his mother Janet (Sweeney) Zuiker, his step-father John Zuiker, his brother Dennis Sweeney, his sister Joan Sweeney, his brother-in-law Brian Nelson, his sister-in-law Judi Sweeney, and his beloved dogs Jake, Duke, Owen, and Tanner.

Services will begin Friday, December 19th with a visitation from 4 to 7 PM and a rosary service following at 7 PM at St. Kunegunda Catholic Church in Sugar Camp, WI. Saturday, December 20th a Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 AM with a 10 AM visitation preceding, all taking place at St. Kunegunda Catholic Church in Sugar Camp, WI. Following services, a luncheon will take place at Sugar Camp Town Hall in Sugar Camp, WI.