John J. Walter, 67, of Chippewa Falls, died Saturday, October 16, 2004, at his home. He was born in Eau Claire on January 21, 1937, the son of Edgar and Ancilla (Rossmeissl) Walter. John graduated from McDonnell High School in Chippewa Falls, with the class of 1955. He attended UW-Stevens Point and graduated from the Siebel Brewing Institute in Chicago, IL and subsequently with a degree in Chemistry from St. Mary's College, San Antonio, TX.\r\nJohn married Charlotte M. Hemp in Wisconsin Rapids on September 21, 1959. She died in 1987. He later married Jean Prueher.\r\nJohn served in the U.S. Marine Corps until his honorable discharge as a Drill Instructor with rank of Gunnery Sergeant.\r\nHe worked as Brewmaster at Lone Star Brewing of San Antonio, TX; Chief Oshkosh and People's Brewing of Oshkosh; Iron City Brewing of Pittsburgh, PA; and returned to Walter's Brewery in Eau Claire after the death of his brother, George. John was very active in the community where he was a member of the John F. Kennedy Council #1257 of the Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Fulton J. Sheen Assembly 4th Degree, Ducks Unlimited, Elks Club and past president of Wisconsin Indianhead Country.\r\nJohn is survived by his second wife, Jean; three sons, John II (Kelly) of Chippewa Falls, Gregory of Berlin, Germany, and Daniel (Dearyle) of Swansea, IL; daughter, Ancilla of Chippewa Falls; four grandchildren, John III, Daniel II, Joshua, and Alex; two brothers, Dr. William (Vonnie) Walter of Eau Claire and Dr. Karl (Jeanne) of Mondovi; two sisters, Mary Dennis of Altoona and Monica Gagnon of Eau Claire; a brother-in-law, Al Kendall of Schillington, PA; and many nieces and nephews.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his first wife, Charlotte; two infant children, Edgar and Laura; a brother, George; two sisters, Barbara Walter and Rosie Kendall; brothers-in-law, Roy Dennis and James Gagnon.\r\nMemorial services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, October 21, 2004, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, Chippewa Falls, with Father Edmund Doerre officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Eau Claire, where V.F.W. Post #305 will conduct military funeral rites. Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church. There will be a Knights of Columbus prayer vigil at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

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