Obituary of John F. Lampert

FORT ATKINSON -- John F. Lampert, 84, celebrated his final St. Patrick�s Day with a Marquette University basketball win and the early return of his beloved Sandhill cranes to the Rock River wetlands near his home. Crane calls filled the sky as he died at home Sunday morning. John was born in Oshkosh, Wis. , on Sept. 11, 1927, the son of Florian and Mary (Halligan) Lampert. He had a happy childhood with his brother, Michael and many Lampert cousins. John joined the U.S. Navy immediately after his graduation from high school and served at the end of World War II. He was a Lifetime Member of the American Legion. He graduated from UW-Oshkosh and from Marquette University Law School. John was a wealthy man when it came to friends and family. He had many life-long friends, including his trout fishing group, which has been gathering every opening day in Waushara County since 1947, and his deer hunting gang, which tried very hard to never kill a deer. He practiced law in Fort Atkinson and Milton for more than 50 years, and served as Fort Atkinson Municipal Judge for 32 years, beginning in 1976. Over the years he was involved in Kiwanis, Rotary, Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters and St. Joseph�s Catholic Church. He was an avid participant in the annual Crane Count. Despite swearing to never watch another MLB game after the Braves left Milwaukee, he became a devoted Brewers fan. John was a garrulous Irishman, quick with both quip and complaint. His witty letters were well known, and his musings in the Jefferson County Bar Assoc. newsletter strayed from baseball to trout fishing. He was a raconteur who lived life large, and loved grand opera, great food and a good joke. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Attorney Carol Lorenz, and their combined family, which includes Susan Lampert Smith (Matthew), Blue Mounds; David Lampert, of Chicago; Beverly Anglum of Deephaven, Minn., Kirstjen Lorenz, of Chicago; Becky Breda, of Columbus; John (Brenda) Lorenz, of Chicago; and Karen Lorenz of Jefferson. His grandchildren are Ben and Lily Smith; Kaitlyn, Alanna and Briannon Anglum; and Jacob, David and Aaron Green. He was preceded in death by his brother Michael and Michael�s daughters Kathy and Kelly. John�s family would like to thank Visiting Angel Maria Garcia, who made it possible for him to stay at home until the end. His family would like to invite everyone to a celebration of John�s life beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday March 31 at the Koshkonong Mounds Country Club. No flowers, please, instead if you would like to donate in John's name to the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation , 244 North Main Street Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 The Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.