John G. Palutke

John Gottlieb Palutke of Wausau, WI, passed away and went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital at the age of 90.

He was born on January 11, 1935 in Watertown, WI to immigrant German parents, Albert and Christine Palutke. He attended rural country schools near Wilton, WI and high school in Wilton, then graduated from Central High in La Crosse, WI in 1952. He attended La Crosse State College and Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, graduating in 1957. He then attended Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, graduating in 1960.

John married Janis Porter at Trinity Independent Church in North Minneapolis, MN on June 1, 1957. They adopted three children-Cindy, Jeff and Greg, all born in Washington State. Together, they served five pastorates in 36 years, all with the Baptist General Conference (Converge). Churches served were in Puyallup and Custer, WA, Webster, WI, Negaunee, MI and Rhinelander, WI. After retiring, John served five interim ministries in Cumberland, Augusta and Bayfield, WI, as well as Escanaba and Menominee, MI.

In 2004, John and Jan moved to their retirement home near Hurley, WI, where they enjoyed gardening and camping. John loved to travel. In 1990 to 2001, he visited his relatives in Germany and traveled throughout Europe. He and Jan visited all 50 states, plus most of the Providences of Canada.

In 2013, John and Jan sold their country home near Hurley and moved into Cedar Creek Apartments in Rothschild, WI to be closer to a good medical facility and family. In 2016, when Jan was moved into North Central Health Care to receive medical assistance, John moved into nearby Sturgeon Bluff Apartments in Wausau, WI. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Schofield.

John enjoyed reading, especially the Bible and doing Bible studies. He loved people-often visiting them in their homes, churches, nursing homes, jails and homeless shelters; also working with children in church programs and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In his leisure time, John enjoyed biking, hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

He is survived by his three children, Cindy (Dan) Mattson, Prescott, WI, Jeff Palutka, Wausau and Greg (Dawn) Palutke, Morrison, CO; nine grandchildren, Lauren (T.J.) Sohre, Zach (Ali) Mattson, Dani (Dan) Burmeister, Sara Rose (Derek) Bolt, Jonathan (Lindsay) Palutke, Cory (Taylor) Ohlson, Chelsea (Steve) Jaco, Tricia (Kevin) Unger and Addie (David) Parkinson; many great-grandchildren and his sister, Ruth Faulhaber, La Crosse, WI. John was preceded in death by his wife, Jan in 2017, his father, Albert in 1994, his mother, Christine in 2000 and his grandson, Sean Schwartz in 2021.

He leaves us with this quote: “I commit myself to God’s care in His love for me and trusting in His salvation purchased for me through Christ’s suffering and death. I leave those who survive me the comfort of knowing that I have died in this faith and have now joined my Lord in eternal glory.”

It is my prayer that all of you who read this will acknowledge “I am a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins and believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again to give me eternal life in heaven with Jesus and all those who have gone on before.” I really want to see each of you again in Glory.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at Bethany Baptist Church in Schofield. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Burial will be in the Newbold Memorial Cemetery, Rhinelander.

Memorials may be designated to Bethany Baptist Church, the Alzheimer’s Foundation or Aspirus Cardiology, Wausau.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com