John Victor Siebenthal passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at Wissota Regional Vent Center in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, after a long battle with COPD. He was 77 years old.
John was born Nov. 17, 1947, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to John M. and Margueritte Siebenthal; he was the third born of six children. When John was a small boy, the family moved to the state of California for his father’s work as a welder. School was not John’s thing, so as a young man he found himself working for the Job Corps Conservation Center program and then started his path to the Steamfitters union. In 1967, John was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam. He received a purple heart and other medals of honor. He was fortunate to return home after completing service for his country. When John returned from Vietnam, he went back to working as a union pipefitter and would later become a long-time member with Steamfitters Union Local 403 where his three brothers and one brother-in-law were also all members.
Soon after returning from Vietnam, John met and married Catherine Lagena Cox Saladino (Gena) after a very short courtship. Together they had three sons, Terry, Bill and Tim. Their marriage would last 9-1/2 years. John also helped Gena raise her son Eddie. John and Gena were able to stay friends for his lifetime.
In 1975, John and Gena set out from California with their three little boys, in search of a home with property to farm. They settled near Frederic, Wisconsin, where they farmed dairy cows for 10 years while John also continued to work as a steamfitter, traveling back and forth to California.
After a work accident in 1999, John was forced to stop working. His health deteriorated after the accident. His heart issues were linked to his time spent in Vietnam, which eventually deemed him eligible for VA disability. Severe lung damage due to COPD required him to go on a ventilator in 2014. John then resided at Wissota Regional Vent Center until his passing.
John had creative talents with cartoon drawings and music. He was the lead guitarist and singer for numerous bands, pairing his voice with great songs by Bob Seger and The Animals, to name a few. He even sang on the same stage with Sonny and Cher when he was 16 years old. A handsome man with definite charm, he liked to help people with their problems when he was able. John opened his home to a Vietnamese family through the Catholic ministries, even though he had a large family of his own. He inherited his own father’s quirky sense of humor and would have a joke or a humorous response quickly, making us laugh. John was a free spirit and adventurous. He would jump on the Harley and head out whenever he felt like it (and yes, he did have a crash or two). John could be stubborn about things and remind you about them with a 3 a.m. phone call. Playing cribbage was a favorite pastime for John; he would play a game anytime if there was a board available. Even though he wasn’t the dad or grandpa that showed up to everything, his pride and love for his family was evident, especially as the years caught up to him. His wide-eyed looks and eye rolls will be remembered with laughs and love. His family will miss him very much.
John was preceded in death by his parents, John M. and Margueritte Siebenthal; his siblings, Mark and Karen Siebenthal, Susan and Charlie Williams, and Peter Siebenthal; and one niece, Kristi Galleisky.
He is survived by his children, Terry (Tara) Siebenthal, Bill (Stephanie) Siebenthal, Tim (Erica) Siebenthal, and Eddie (Lona) Siebenthal; 13 grandchildren; multiple great-grandchildren; siblings, Dan (Marcia) Siebenthal and Mary Siebenthal; nieces and nephews; and the mother of his children, Gena Siebenthal.
A heartfelt thank-you is extended to Wissota Regional Vent Center (Dove Healthcare) for taking such good care of John and being his extended family for so many years. He will be missed by many.
There will be a gathering to celebrate John on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Barrel House in Frederic. Everyone is welcome to come share memories and visit with the family.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories, and photos at rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, 715-327-4475.
