Dr. John L. Regner

1943 - 2016

Dr. John L. Regner, 73, of Kissimmee, Fla., passed away peacefully on Friday, April 15, at Poinciana Medical Center.

John was born in Kenosha, Wis., on Feb. 23, 1943, to the late Dr. Leon and Helen Regner. John attended St. James Elementary and St. Joseph High School. In high school he was active in sports and played basketball, football and track.

He spent his summers growing up at Paddock Lake, Wis. There he enjoyed fun and mischief with his three brothers, Thomas (Shirley), Robert (Pat) and Richard (Sharon) and developed a life-long passion for fishing and the outdoors. The four brothers had a special bond that was never broken and also imparted these values throughout his life with all Regners at Paddock Lake teaching the kids to fish, swim and drive boats.

After high school, John attended the University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., and later, the Illinois College of Optometry where he followed the previous two generations of family into the optometry medical field. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Giltmier of Evergreen Park, Ill., who he met during optometry school.

John practiced optometry for 47 years and was active in the local community and social service. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha, the Elks Club, Chamber of Commerce, American Optometric Foundation, President of the Board for Saint Joseph High School, was an original founding member of the fishing tournament Kenosha Cohorama and always advocated the sustainment of the local fish population. He was also a founding member of the Kenosha Area Soccer League and dedicated his life to community service and enjoyed family and friends playing sports and enjoying outdoor activities. John loved to fish and continued this passion during retirement. John spent some of his last moments with us "casting a line" in Florida.

John is survived by Elizabeth "Betty" Regner; their children, LtCol (USMC) Matthew (Rania) Regner (Tampa, Fla.), Dr. Margaret (David) Regner-Hodge, and Mollie (Dr. Walter) Wiesztort, both of Kenosha, Wis. John is also survived by seven grandchildren, Samir Abboud-Regner, Michael, John, Benjamin and Emelia Hodge, and Logan and Elliott Wiesztort. John spoke to all of his grandchildren daily and always asked that they "change the world" in their own special and unique way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Leon and Helen Regner; his brother Thomas Regner; his wife Shirley Regner; and his in-laws, Anna-Mae and Frederick Giltmier. John was also preceded in death by his grandchild Elizabeth; aunts, Cecelia, Marion, Janet, Caroline and Aletha; and many other Regners across the United States.

The family would like to especially thank the following, his dear friend Dr. Raymond Knight and his staff, the Joe Andrea Cancer Center at St. Catherine's Hospital, the countless nurses and staff in Milwaukee, Wis., and Tampa, Fla., and family and friends who have helped John along his journey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 23, at St. Anne's Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 22, at Proko Funeral Home from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to be made to St. Joseph Catholic Academy in his honor (Phone: (262) 656-7360).