John F. Macek

John F. Macek, 74, of Janesville, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, December 9, 2014, at Agrace Hospice in Janesville at peace and surrounded by his family. John was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on October 10, 1940, to Victor and Mary (Slanc) Macek. He earned bachelor's degrees from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, OH, and the University of Kansas, Lawrence. He also earned a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Missouri, Columbia. John was blessed with a long and rewarding professional career, including 17 years at the Midland-Gladwin, MI Community Mental Health Center and ending as the Director of the University Health and Counseling Services at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, where he retired Emeritus in 2007. Over his career, he had the privilege of starting six health care organizations that have made life better for hundreds of thousands of people. John was a member of Nativity of Mary Parish. He greatly enjoyed political analysis and writing, woodworking, camping, and ship watching on the Great Lakes. John was also an avid gardener and could often be found with his wife working in the yard or on his koi pond. He was an active Rotarian for many years and enjoyed participating in their student and professional exchange programs. John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jan Macek; his son Bryan Macek of Auburn Hills, MI; his daughter Sarah (Jeff) Gagnon and granddaughter Claire of Norway, MI; his son Curtis (Kaila) Macek and granddaughter Alice of Janesville, WI; his sister Teresa Moody and his brothers Victor, Michael, Joseph, Anthony, Frank and Thomas Macek, all of the greater Kansas City area. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Matthew. John wanted his life to be remembered not as one to be mourned, but as one to be celebrated. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 12, 2014, at Nativity of Mary Parish, 313 East Wall Street, Janesville, WI, preceded by a visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the church.