John Reisch

life story

John Reisch, a proud veteran, tinkerer, and lifelong nonconformist

John E. Reisch, 88, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2026, at Deephaven Woods Senior Living in Deephaven, Minnesota, surrounded by care, comfort and love. Born on January 25, 1938, in Springfield, Illinois, to Joseph and Vivian (Dressendorfer) Reisch, John lived a life that was anything but ordinary—and he would not have wanted it any other way.

From an early age, John showed the traits that would define him: strong-willed, deeply intelligent, endlessly resourceful, and mischievous. He attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic School before moving with his family to LaGrange, Illinois, where he graduated from Lyons Township High School and went on to study business management in college. John later made his home in Lombard, Illinois, where he lived for more than 50 years and built a life as independent and unconventional as he was. During those years, he worked in electrical sales for The Wiremold Company and later at J. Reisch & Associates.

A proud U.S. Army veteran, John was stationed in Alaska, where his love of wide-open spaces took hold. That love stayed with him for life, especially for the American West. The Grand Tetons held a special place in his heart, along with Jackson Hole and Yellowstone—places that matched his independent spirit and sense of freedom. At various points, he hitchhiked and rode his motorcycle to the mountains, pursuing life with a kind of determined curiosity that did not ask for permission.

John also became an avid runner, initially, as he liked to joke, because that was where all the good-looking, healthy women were. What began as motivation turned into a passion: he ran in more than 125 races, including 25 marathons and half-marathons. True to form, he approached running the same way he approached everything else—in his own way, at his own pace, and with a good story to tell afterward.

John was a nonconformist who lived his life sometimes brilliantly, sometimes stubbornly, always authentically. He was incredibly smart, teaching himself how to code and build computers long before it was common. If something was broken, he could fix it; if something could be taken apart, he probably already had. His love of tools, maps, and flashlights bordered on legendary, and his talent for tinkering meant there was always a project—finished or not—within reach.

He was also, without question, frugal beyond frugal. John could stretch a dollar farther than anyone thought possible, sometimes to the family’s amusement and exasperation, often repairing, repurposing, or inventing something instead of buying it new. To him, throwing something away before trying to fix it felt almost like a moral failure.

For all his independence, John also spent time with his children, Franz and Karla—taking them on road trips and camping out West, riding dirt bikes, and teaching them to shoot and hunt. In later years, some of his happiest moments were simply visiting with his three grandsons, Miles, Griffin, and Viggo, finding creative ways to have fun and always sharing good laughs.

John had a great smile and a quick laugh, and he possessed the kind of feisty German stubbornness that could both frustrate and entertain everyone around him. He insisted on living life entirely on his own terms. Those who knew him best also understood that his life included decades of undiagnosed mental illness which shaped his journey in ways both visible and unseen.

He found joy in simple things: a good scoop of ice cream, a John Denver song, a well-made tool, or a map that promised somewhere new. He did not need much—just something to figure out, somewhere to go, or someone to share a laugh with.

He is survived by his children, Franz Reisch of Lombard, Illinois, and Karla (Todd Underhill) Reisch of Excelsior, Minnesota; his brother, Richard Morrissey of Brookfield, Illinois; his sister, Molly (Morrissey) Myrick Densmore of Garland, Texas; and his grandsons, Miles Underhill of Bozeman, Montana, and Griffin and Viggo Underhill of Excelsior, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Richard A. Morrissey; his sister, Carolyn (Reisch) Kieffer; and his brothers, Joseph A. Reisch and Franz S. Reisch.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the attentive staff at Deephaven Woods Senior Living, where John spent the last two and a half years of his life, and to Brighton Hospice for their compassionate care and support.

Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.

John was truly one of a kind—stubborn, inventive, complicated, and unforgettable. He left behind stories, lessons, and a reminder that life does not have to be conventional to be meaningful. It just has to be lived fully, in your own way.