John Luther, 86, of Sparta died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta. He was born on October 10, 1921 at home in the Town of Little Falls, Monroe County, Wisconsin. He was the oldest son of Raymond and Thelma (Livangood) Luther.

     John grew up on the family farm with his parents, older sister Orvilla, brother Robert Luther and brother George Luther. He helped to work the family farm and went to school at the Jenkins Valley Grade School.

     While living on the farm he met Mildred Esther Becker from Mondovi, WI. She was the sister of Howard Becker, Orvilla’s husband. She was living and working near Cataract at the time. John would help do the chores and milk the cows at night and walk about four miles or so to Cataract to meet Mildred and then walk back to the family farm and work the next day and walk to Cataract again that night to meet Mildred. He loved her dearly. John and Mildred decided to get married and they traveled to Waukon, Iowa and were married on June 28, 1941. John worked for Ninneman’s Grocery Store in Sparta while he and Mildred were married. To this union, one son, Jon Michael Luther was born on the family farm, January 17, 1943. Mildred passed away on January 22, 1943, complications of childbirth. John was devastated.

     John met his second wife, Anna Mae Gabel, who had come from Chicago, Illinois to visit relatives. They dated and were married on April 15, 1944. To this union, three children were born. Mary Ann, who passed away in infancy, Jimmie Lee and Marjorie Ann.

     John and Anna Mae bought a farm near Jenkins Valley. They farmed and he worked for Monroe County Highway Department. John later bought a can milk route. He hauled milk to Pet Milk in Sparta. John began working for Arthur Overgaard, Inc. near Elroy in 1954. He worked on road construction until he retired in 1985. His road construction work took him through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa. John drove gravel truck, was a mechanic and a truck foreman. In 1971, John and Anna Mae purchased a bar in Cataract. It was a well known establishment. After he purchased it, it was named in his honor, Big John’s Longbranch and dance hall. They eventually sold the bar and dance hall and enjoyed retirement. John and Ann Mae were married 42 years. She passed away suddenly on April 4, 1986 at her son, Jimmy’s home near Cataract at the age of 63 years of a heart condition.

     After Anna Mae passed away, he continued to live on his farm. He sold the farm and moved to Poynette, WI to live with his lady-friend. While living there, he was stricken with Alzheimers Disease. John moved back to Sparta. He lived with his son, Jon and his wife Lois. When it became impossible for him to function on his own, he moved to a nursing home where he lived ever since.

     John loved his road work, working his farm and when he wasn’t doing the hard tasks of life, he loved to bowl, hunt and fish.

     In addition to his wives he was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mary Ann; granddaughter, Amanda; a great granddaughter, Peyton; his sister, Orvilla and her husband, Howard Becker; a brother, Robert and his wife, Genievive Luther.

     He is survived by two sons, Jon Michael (Lois) Luther of Sparta, Jim (Teresa) Luther of Cataract; a daughter Marjorie Berg of Cataract; 10 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; a brother, George (Beth) Luther of Jenkins Valley near Cataract; many nieces, and nephews.

     Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta with Reverend David Carlson officiating. Burial will be in the Cataract Cemetery, Cataract.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Friday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.