Dodgeville, WI - John W. Rewey, age 87, of Dodgeville and formerly of Prairie du Chien and Platteville, died on Wednesday evening August 5, 2015 at UW-Hospital in Madison. John was born on May 7, 1928 in his grandmother’s house in Patch Grove, WI the son of Edward and Ruth (Wilkinson) Rewey. He married Eleanor Kujawa on June 2, 1946 and later June (Munns) Moen on June 18, 1999.
John grew up on a dairy farm raising cows, hogs, and chickens. During his junior year in high school, John joined the Navy. He served 22 months aboard the USS Adams DM-27 as a Fireman, F1 Class. John and Eleanor were married for 45 years and raised five children: David, Dennis, Jeanne, Jeffrey, and Eddy. For almost 30 years, John and Eleanor owned and operated a bar in Platteville called "Big Bad John and Eleanor Too." In addition to running the bar, John was an over the road truck driver. Many may know him by his CB handle “Old Farmer”. Following Eleanor’s death in 1991, John married June Moen in 1999. John and June rode the same county school bus when they were young, but came to know each other later in life. One of John’s most lasting memories took place on April 25, 2015 when he was honored to take part in the Badger Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
John is survived by his wife June Moen-Rewey of Dodgeville, four children; Jeanne (Don) Ballweg of Madison, David (Barb) Rewey of Patch Grove, Dennis (Barb) Rewey of Lancaster, and Eddy (Janice) Rewey of Tomah, WI, daughter-in-law Hannah Rewey of Platteville, step-children; Peggy (Carl) Mortensen of Pearl City, IL, Dan (Kathy) Moen of Racine, Mary Gibson (friend George Warren) of Stoughton, Sue Moen of Dodgeville, Jim (Holly) Moen of Davis, CA, and Rose (Mark) Freidel of DeForest, 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild, brother Dickie (Betsey) Rewey of McFarland, sister Wilma Wilkinson of Boscobel, sister-in-law Glennie Rewey of Lancaster and numerous loved nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Eleanor in 1991, son Jeffrey Rewey in 2005, grandchildren; Scott Young and Casey Freidel, sisters; Edna Nichols, Mary Lou Brandemuehl, and Myrna Newhouse, and brother Clark Rewey.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday August 10, 2015 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fennimore. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Sunday afternoon August 9, 2015 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Monday morning. In lieu of plants and flowers, a memorial fund is being established in loving memory of John W. Rewey.