John R. Carini

John Raymond Carini of Watertown, WI joined his family in Heaven on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

John was born on March 5, 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, along with his twin sister, Josephine, to the late Albert Dominic Carini and Margaret Lalicata Carini. He grew up in the Third Ward which was predominately an Italian Community at the time and graduated in 1951 from Riverside High School in Milwaukee.

John worked as a shoe salesman, a guitar teacher at Metropolitan Music and other jobs until he started at Evinrude, in Milwaukee and worked there for 37 years before he retired at the age of 58. John enjoyed being busy so he decided to go back to work and became a greenskeeper at The Golf Courses of Lawsonia in Green Lake, WI. John would take care of the greens for 20 years and finally retire at the age of 78.

John loved music and learned to play the guitar when he was 10 years old. His first guitar was a 1939 Gibson that had 6 strings. He started playing music in various bands as a teenager in Milwaukee and the surrounding area and would continue to play guitar, banjo and the mandolin. His lifelong passion was being a jazz guitarist. He loved playing this music with a band called the Santones. He then changed his genre of music after he met Hank Magayne and his wife Veronica. John and Hank would become long time friends and play together in the Hank Magayne band for over 25 years, not only in Wisconsin but other states as well.

John met his wife, Irene Margaret Shurpit, playing at a club in the Third Ward. It is said that Irene knew she would marry John after she saw him playing on stage. They were united in marriage on January 8, 1955 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Milwaukee, WI and continue their marriage for 63 years! John and Irene lived in various locations in Milwaukee. In 1967 they built a home on 2 acres in Jackson, WI where they would raise their 3 children, Peggy Ann, Andrew John and Albert John. In 1992, after John’s retirement from Evinrude, they purchased a winter home in Brooksville, Florida and spent the summers in Irene’s parent’s home in Princeton, WI. In 2014 they decided to move to Theresa, WI to be close to their son, Al. John remained in that home until 2022.

John also enjoyed golfing and bowling and competed in many tournaments for both sports for many years. He especially loved competing against his family members and friends for those bragging rights!

Cherishing John’s memory include his children; Peggy Ann (Doug) Morrissey, Andrew (Randy Greunke) Carini and Albert (Jill) Carini.

Grandchildren; Kira Tafelski Johnson, Alyssa Berryman Hass, Lauren Morrissey, Stephanie Carini Czernecki, John Carini, Zachary Carini, Chelsea Schmidt.

Great-grandchildren; Paisley Hass, Kane Heinz, Kennedy Hass, Reagan Hass, Cynthia Czarnecki, Oliver Czarnecki, Avery Czarnecki, Wesley Czarnecki.

John has a sister-in-law, Barbara (Sawyer) Carini and brother-in-law Paul Tetzlaff and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Irene, and his siblings Esther (James) Gardner, Rosario (Mary) Carini, Josephine (Paul) Tetzlaff, Dominic (Barbara) Carini.

Many thanks to Annette Walcheske and her husband Mark for their friendship and spiritual support for John.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at Myrhum - Patten Funeral Home, 1315 W. Washington St, West Bend, WI 53095 at 11:00 a.m.

There will be a combined luncheon and visitation to follow from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Final burial will take place with immediate family on November 4, 2024 at St. John’s Cemetery, Princeton, WI.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Wounded Warriors Project.