John Bochniak, 67, of Greendale, WI, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026, after a short battle with cancer.

John will be remembered for his gentleness, quick wit, and artistic creativity. His caring heart, warm smile and kindness were gifts to everyone who knew him. Even as his dementia worsened in recent years, John was unwavering in his faith in God. We are thankful his mind and body are now at peace in the loving arms of his Lord and Savior.

John is survived by his daughter Maggie (Jake Rassett), siblings Paul (Becky) Bochniak, Diane Bochniak, and Connie (Steve) Murphy and sister-in-law Lori Bochniak. Further survived by his nieces and nephews, Lauren (Jonathan) Looney, Sarah (Tom) Eller, Alex (Devin) Murray, Aaron (Kelly) Bochniak, Morgan and Shane Murphy, and David Bochniak, and his great-niece and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents Chester and Margaret Bochniak and beloved brother Mark.

A 1976 graduate of Whitnall High School, John went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 1991, John opened Wear America, his shop in downtown Greendale, marking the start of a successful career as a graphic designer and silk screen printer. John’s creative spirit was perhaps best captured in his work for the community. For years, his work became a familiar sight across the community. Most notably he was the artist behind the T-shirts for Greendale’s annual Village Days festival, countless school and community drama productions, and many a proud sports team. His shop was more than a business; it was a reflection of his pride and commitment to the local community and beyond.

After retirement John put his extensive handyman and painting skills to use, often helping family, friends and neighbors with home repairs, remodels and house painting. He remained an active tennis player and golfer for years and loved a good game of cribbage.

An avid lover of the great outdoors, John found peace and tranquility in the quiet of nature. One of John’s favorite quotes was “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ~ John Muir. Most recently, John’s artistic journey combined his love of nature by creating multimedia art projects from pebbles, wood and sticks he collected on his walks. For John, a smooth stone or a weathered branch was just another canvas, and his "nature finds" became quiet, beautiful testaments to his enduring artistic curiosity.

A celebration of John’s life will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Hartson Funeral Home, 11111 W. Janesville Road, Hales Corners. Visitation 10am-Noon with service to follow at Noon.

To honor John’s memory, in lieu of flowers or gifts, the family suggests donations to Friends of Wehr Nature Center (Franklin, WI), ensuring that the trails he loved are preserved for others to enjoy.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. Lisa Wehr-Maves at the Froedtert Medical Center for her compassionate care and tireless dedication to ensuring John had the greatest quality of life at every stage of his dementia.