John D Penglase

Teacher, poet, painter, runner, basketball player--John D. Penglase was above average, but everyone, even the most rare and accomplished, has an expiration date. His was May 5, 2018. John was born in Marquette, Michigan, on April 25, 1939. He graduated from Graveraet High School, Marquette, where his basketball record of the most points scored in one game (44) still stands. After earning a bachelor's degree in English from Northern Michigan University, John began a long teaching career. He taught at Washington High School in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, for five years before going back to school, earning a Master's Degree and then a Ph.D. Most of his teaching was done at colleges and universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Milwaukee School of Engineering. John was a memorable teacher who touched the lives of countless young people.
Poetry and music, especially jazz, were John's passions, but he also enjoyed watercolor painting and running marathons. Even though John resided in Milwaukee for over forty years and moved to De Pere after he retired, he considered the Upper Peninsula of Michigan his home. His hero was his grandfather John Penglase, who emigrated from Cornwall to the U.P. and instilled great pride in the family's Cornish mining heritage.
John loved every single member of his large and diverse family. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Rosemary Penglase, his brother Thomas, his grandson Kevin Penglase and his granddaughter Rosemary Myrick. His survivors include Mary Ann, his wife of 40 years, and their two sons John and Thomas; his former wife Maxine Jokinen (née Pearce) and their four children--Michael Penglase (Carrie), Valerie Myrick, Heather Lindquist, and Sean Penglase; his grandchildren--Ella Dwyer, Caroline Myrick, Nels and Ingrid Lindquist, Alice Penglase--and his two great-grandchildren, McKenna Penglase and Adeline Plonsky. John is also survived by his brother Richard Penglase (Essa Gordon); his many brothers and sisters-in-law; and by his nieces and nephews, who found their unusual Uncle John highly entertaining and sometimes outrageous. When it came to fun, he had his share, and if you ask anyone who knew him, he or she will have a story to tell.
As John would be the first to point out, he went from "distinguished" to "extinguished." In the end Alzheimer's and cancer took away this handsome, witty man. Please direct any memorials to the prevention and cure of Alzheimer's, a disease which steals the very best part of who a person is.
The Penglase family is grateful to all who helped care for John in his last years, months and days, especially Dr. Tracy Sherman, Dr. Christopher Keto, Jan DeLeers, RN, and all the staff at Aurora Bay Care Hospital and Unity Hospice. What lovely, kind people you are.
Family and friends may call at Cotter Funeral home, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere on Saturday, May 19, beginning at 1:30pm with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. In late summer there will be a celebration of John's life in Marquette, Michigan.