Jack Fassbender

Jack (John) Fassbender, 79, died surrounded by his family on April 20th of a rare aorta sarcoma at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He leaves a devoted family to mourn the loss of their husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who was the rock and foundation of their lives. Jack was born at home on the family farm on December 13, 1937 to Leontina and Carl Fassbender, a hard working family of nine children, who instilled in him a work ethic that stayed with him all of his life. He took this work ethic into his career as a master craftsman. He will live on in spirit in the beautiful pieces of furniture he made for loved ones, and in the many houses he built and restored, especially the "house that Jack built" for Ellie and their children on the hill overlooking the village of Waunakee. Jack enjoyed 16 years of retirement, starting each day at 6:00 am with the coffee guys, traveling with Ellie, hunting with lifelong friends, golfing with the Monday group and spending time with family and friends in the log house in the far north and then the lake house on Porter Lake. Perhaps his greatest joy, other than family, was the time he spent on his two acres. Jack was a man of many gifts and talents giving freely of these gifts; sharing vegetables and flowers from his gardens. His daffodils bloom from Wisconsin to Massachusetts as he shared his bulbs with so many. The most wonderful thing about Jack was the love and devotion he gave to his family. He is irreplaceable and will be deeply missed by Ellie, his wife of 48 years, his daughter Sydney Lindner (Bob), his son, JP (Amy Skolaski), his grandchildren, Franci Lindner, Addie Fassbender and Little Jack Fassbender and his great granddaughters, Izzy and Ruby Lindner as well as Louise Price Snyman, Johannesburg, South Africa who joined his family as an AFS student in 1982. A loving connection to Louise and her family has continued for over 35 years. He is also survived by a sister and three brothers, his sister in laws and brother in laws as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jack will be remembered as the best of men, truly a success in all that was important, as a husband, father and family man. A celebration of Jack's life will be held at the Winn-Cress Funeral Home 5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee on Saturday, April 29th starting at 1:00p.m., with a short service at 2:30p.m. A private burial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jack's name may be made out to St. Mary's Foundation, Madison, and to Agrace HospiceCare, Fitchburg.