John William Laitsch

January 21, 1924 – March 19, 2023

Oneonta - John William Laitsch passed away peacefully after a full 99 years of well-lived life.

John was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI by his parents William and Alma Laitsch, the first of two sons.

John proudly served in the United States Army during World War II in Europe, returning home to Wisconsin after the war.

John and his brother Richard then took over the Milwaukee Radiator Repair Company from his father.

John married June Ploetz in June of 1948 who predeceased him in February of 1988, with no children.  John and his brother Richard subsequently reconnected with Betty I. Plaag, whom he met in Belgium after the liberation in 1944.  John and Betty married on June 17, 1989. Betty also predeceased him on November 1, 2006, again with no offspring.

John's passions included sailing on Lake Michigan and driving his restored MG.

John is survived by his stepchildren, Robert Plaag of Shoreline, WA and Nancy Johnson of Oneonta, NY.  John's younger brother, Richard P. Laitsch (deceased) provided John with his nephews and nieces including Jeffrey and Donna Laitsch, Thomas Laitsch, Susan and Peter Mihojevich, David Laitsch, and Julie and Patrick Baudhuin.

John was a patriot in the truest sense. He is a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge, active in Republican politics and a well-regarded member of his Lutheran church.  He lived a full life running a successful business and later travelling the US, England, Belgium and Australia. We will all miss John dearly.

His ashes will be returned to Wisconsin to be interred with June, his first wife, at 11 a.m., July 20, 2023 at the Wisconsin Memorial Park, 12875 West Capitol Dr., Brookfield, WI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Atonement Lutheran Church, 1 Center St., Oneonta, NY or the Oneonta Chapter of the VFW/American Legion, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820.

Arrangements are with Oneonta's only family owned funeral home, Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono at 51 Dietz Street; www.lhpfuneralhome.com .