John D. Pilgrim
June 6, 1956 - July 14, 2019
        

John Pilgrim of Oconomowoc was born to eternal rest on July 14, 2019 at the age of 63 at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.

He was born on June 6, 1956 in Harvard, Illinois to Reverend Richard and Ruth (Bridges) Pilgrim. On July 14, 1979, he married the love of his life, Carol (nee Kortz) in Kaukauna, WI. They were blessed with a daughter, Caren Pilgrim.  

John earned a Bachelor’s Degree at UW Stout and was employed for 39 years at Honeywell in Milwaukee, retiring in May, 2018. He enjoyed going to car shows and passed his love on to his daughter. He had an affinity for quirky cars and collected many, big and small. His sense of humor, devotion to helping friends and family, and love will be missed.  Family dogs brought much joy to him over the years, especially Bimmer, Sam, Tosh, and Daisy.

John is survived by his wife Carol; his daughter Caren (fiancé Allen Long); sisters Joanne (Kurt) Fischer, Becky (Jim) Antrim, Barb Pilgrim; cousins Nancy (Pat) Muller Rogers, Carol (Steve) Muller Norman; brothers and sisters in-law, Joan (Eugene) Vander Heiden, Helen (William Kortz, 1st husband) (Chris) Hendricks, Mary (Joe) Lom, Roy (Susan) Kortz, Jim (Linda) Kortz, Lee (Carol) Kortz, Mark (Janet) Kortz; many nieces and nephews; and special friends Pete and Kath Holmes, and Gary and Cheryl Christenson.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his paternal grandparents Cleon and Jennie Belle (nee Stellhorn) Pilgrim, maternal grandparents Melvin and Daisy Lois (nee Claus) Bridges; parents-in-law, Kirby and Catherine (Vander Heiden) Kortz; brother-in-law, William Kortz; aunts and uncles Ralph and Betty (Bridges) Muller, Robert and Jean (Pilgrim) Kelly; and special friend Marc Chiarello.

With his loving and giving nature, John generously was an organ donor to help many others live a better life.

A visitation for John will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2019 from 10:00 am until the time of the memorial service at 11:45 am at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 121 Cross Street, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, Wisconsin Auto Museum in Hartford, WI, or to the family which will be used towards a bench at La Belle Cemetery in Oconomowoc.  A private inurnment will be scheduled for a later date.

John – we will always carry your memory in our hearts and miss you.