John Roenz

John (Jack) Lee Roenz was called home by his Heavenly Father on Monday, June 22, 2026, after a long bout with chronic illness. John was born on October 16, 1947 to Marvin and Averill Roenz of Manawa, WI. 

Jack attended St Paul Lutheran School -Manawa for his elementary school years and attributed his strong faith to his early upbringing. Graduating from Little Wolf High School in 1965, he went on to attend and graduate from UW River Falls with a double major in history and math education. 

Jack married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Gwen Tohm, also of Manawa on December 5th, 1970.  He accepted a teaching position in Kaukauna for one year but moved to Neillsville the following year where he spent his career at Neillsville Middle School and raised his two children, Amy and Mathew. Both he and Gwen were active in their church and in the lives of their children through high school and college. Jack loved high school athletics and frequently worked at games. He carried his love for high school sports for the rest of his life and never missed a game even when he moved to Appleton following the death of his beloved partner, Gwen.

Jack was a lifelong educator and, as such, received his Master’s degree from Winona University-Minnesota. His education and love for numbers was utilized in his part/time tax preparation business in Neillsville for many years.

Jack is survived by his daughter Amy (Shane) Seif, Mathew (Jennifer) Roenz, grandchildren Katie, Molly and Lindsey Seif and Hunter (Allissa), Mason, Marshall and Kobe Roenz, his great-grandson Jameson Roenz, and brother-in-law, William Tohm, Sr.

He is further survived by sisters Sandra Fenske, Judy Raffin, Betty Klotzbuecher and Jill (Don) Murrow. Preceding him in death were his wife Gwen, parents Marvin and Averill Roenz, granddaughter, Brookelyn Roenz, parents-in-law, Beverly (Tohm-Walbruck) and Harold Walbruck, brothers-in-law, John Raffin, Don Fenske, Kenneth Klotzbuecher, sister-in-law, Barb Tohm and a niece, Jennifer Pralle.

While in Appleton, he was a faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church and a member and former secretary of Elks Lodge #337. 

The Lord is and always was His shepherd. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.