A life of faith, family and community

John Moe touched many with a dedication to service

By Ed Nadolski

Editor in Chief

Most of the men attending John Moe’s funeral Mass Dec. 30 – sons, sons-in-law and grandsons – humbly honored their patriarch by donning his favored neckwear: a bowtie.

It was a silent and simple, but nonetheless moving, tribute to a man who stood out for so much more than his signature attire. Although the bowties worn by his relatives came directly from Moe’s closet, the words spoken by those who knew him best made it clear his survivors would much rather wear the mantle of faith, family and community that made his life so remarkable.

“We read in history books about the big achievers and leaders. But just maybe the real leaders are the little guys who go unnoticed by history, but lead families and communities in profound ways,” said Robert Spitzer, a longtime friend and business associate of Moe’s. “People like John are the difference in our communities and, by extension, our country and world.”

Moe died Dec. 27 at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington of heart failure after celebrating the Christmas holiday with his family. He was 94.

Moe’s long record of community service – 60 years with the Burlington Rotary Club, tireless support for his church and schools, long stints on the Memorial Hospital Board and city Park Board, and extensive accounting work for the Burlington Rescue Squad – speaks volumes about his love for his hometown.

He was one of the founders of the Round Table that provided financial support for Catholic Central High School and he also served for many year’s on the school’s board of education.

According to Spitzer, when it came generating support for St. Charles Catholic Church, Catholic Central High School or Memorial Hospital, Moe was usually first in line to make a donation and do the legwork that brought in other donations.

It’s the kind of community service record that left quite an impression on those closest to him, according to Dian Lynch, the oldest of Moe’s nine children and also a Burlington resident.

“I think dad gave us a wonderful example of how to live a blessed life,” she said. “He taught us the importance of being involved and giving back.”

Lynch appreciated the presence and influence of her father and mother Mary – who preceded her husband in death by four years – so much that more than 20 years ago she organized weekly Thursday evening gatherings at her parents’ Burlington home for cocktails, conversation and a celebration of family and friends.

“I didn’t want a week to go by without seeing mom and dad,” Lynch said.

The spirit of those gatherings carried through until the end as Lynch and several of her eight siblings gathered in Moe’s hospital room to sing songs and offer one final toast to their father.

Many of those songs had become family traditions while sung year-after-year around the campfire during family vacations to Plum Lake in northern Wisconsin.

“In death he was surrounded by his family,” Lynch said.

Moe grew up in Burlington, attending St. Charles Catholic School and later St. Mary’s High School (now Catholic Central High School). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1941 with a degree in business before returning to Burlington to work as an accountant for Pet Milk.

The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Moe enlisted in the Army Air Corps and trained as a flight radio operator before becoming an interpreter for Italian prisoners of war at an Army camp in Nebraska.

It was there he also met and married his wife.

Following the war, Moe returned to Burlington and began a 67-year career as a certified public accountant. He worked well past the age of 90, finally selling the business and retiring fully in 2013.

His son, Jeff Moe, who delivered the eulogy at the funeral, said his father’s work ethic made a lasting impression on all of his children.

“He would say that you can’t get ahead by working 9 to 5. Instead, Dad would work 18-hour days during tax season. He’d come home from work to eat dinner with the family and then go back to work,” Jeff Moe said.

“A friend once asked dad how he could stay on top of such a busy life. Dad answered, three things keep him going – church, family and a gin martini every night.”

Jeff Moe said the challenge now is for all who knew and loved his father to carry out his legacy and live by his example.

“When dad passed away last Friday, our family and our community suffered a big loss,” he said. “But rather than dwell on the loss, dad would want us to be happy that he is in a better place.

“And he would want us to step up, fill the hole, and carry the torch that he has passed onto us.”

A complete obituary for John Moe appears under the obituary tab of this website.