Obituary
John LeRoy Every
John Every passed peacefully on Monday March 31, 2025. He was born in La Crosse WI to Clayton and Dorothy (Kjos) Every and was a life-long resident on Onalaska.
John graduated from Onalaska High School in the class of 1977. John was a social butterfly and earned the title of Friendliest Guy in his class. His outgoing personality brought him many dear friends and it seemed like he knew everybody and everybody knew him. One of his favorite sayings was “Everybody Loves Johnny”.
John began his career at Every plumbing in high school and worked there until his retirement. John took pride in serving his community. He served on both the Onalaska Police Reserve and the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department.
After receiving a life-saving blood transfusion, John became a dedicated blood donor. He was recognized by the American Red Cross for donating over 100 pints of blood. There were times that he was called during the night to come down to the hospital to donate for an emergency and he felt privileged to do his part to save someone else.
John was a member of the Sons of the American Legion and a life-long member of First Lutheran Church in Onalaska.
John lived his life enjoying the times he spent at the Back40 with deer camp and hunting along with corn planting, 4-wheeling and driving around the horn being among his favorite things to do there. He also enjoyed fishing in the Mississippi River and Lake Onalaska and was well known in his younger days for his pitching skills in pumpkin ball.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Clayton and Dorothy Every, his maternal and paternal Grandparents, Brother-in-law Richard Fink, and too many of his beloved Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
He is survived by his siblings Sharon Kjos, Janice Fink, Dennis (Mary) Every, Jackie (Charles) Wallace, his nephews Craig (Amy) Every, Hunter (Kaitlin) Wallace, nieces Penny (Jeff) Alibrandi, Brittany Geary, Brianna (Andy Berzinski) Every, his great nephew Jackson Every and great nieces Riley Every, Nina Alibrandi and Hailee Alibrandi. He is also survived by his Aunts Marilyn Bott and Avis Czechowicz and Uncle Jerry (Betty) Every and many cousins and dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the FLC + Foundation which will provide perpetual giving in support of local needs in the community. Memorials may also be directed to the Onalaska Fire Department or the charity of the donor’s choice.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Gundersen Dialysis Center for the care they provided him for the past 11 years and Mulder Health Care for his most recent care. John thoroughly enjoyed the friendships he made there. To the class of ’77 for being a special part of his life, love and support through his struggles.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Noon at First Lutheran Church, 410 Main St., Onalaska with visitation at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be at the Onalaska City Cemetery at a later date. Pastor Karyn Bodenschatz and Pastor Jason Stanton will officiate. Onalaska City Fire Department will hold his last call after the service at the church. Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.
The funeral service will be livestreamed. Click on this link to watch live. FLC + Worship
Oh Johnny, you are leaving a void that will never be filled. 💔 I’m thankful for so many memories of the Osweiler-Every cousins growing up together. Your sense of humor and the ability to make everyone laugh, your amazing smile and laugh will be missed by all.
I can’t even count the number of times you would pull up to the shop, honk your car horn which meant you had a delivery and needed me to come out. Bananas, muffins, Coney Dogs and Pizza Corral pizza were surprise drop offs on any given day. Always thinking of others.
I love you Johnny, aka LeRoy, aka Black Banana.
And you’re right “Everybody loves Johnny”. RIP sweet cousin. Patty
A good man indeed. I got know John when l served as the Assistant Police Chief in Onalaska. He would invite me every Sunday for breakfast at the American Legion, where I always enjoyed his friendship and meeting his friends. RIP John, thank you for your friendship.
Johnny was a true gentleman and friend. Never talked bad about anyone. Played ball with him back in the day. He will be missed.
Sonny! You are an example of what our Lord expected of his creation. Your ability to show kindness,love, and compassion to everyone who you met. You were one of the funniest guys I ever knew and you made your world of friends and family a better place to live. You were the best! You will always be in my heart and the memories will live forever! Such a beautiful family we had because of our upbringing. Onward and upward Johnny boy, The Lord has the Gates open for you to live in peace and comfort. Find a good fishing spot for us when I get there and have a cooler filled! Love ❤️ Nana Bug
My condolences to the Every family.
You are in our prayers!
Sharon and Rick Bakkom!
To all of John’s family, you have lost one super special guy. He made so many lives happier, richer and better for knowing him. I am grateful for times shared with him and the kindness he always showed me. May you be comforted with God’s peace and all the amazing memories you have of John.
One of My favorites. When Johnny would walk in the Scoreboard. I would say ladies and gentlemen Johnny Every! All would applaud and he would of course raise on hand then the other in acknowledgement. He was a crowd pleaser and a good friend. God Bless you Johnny you will be missed.
If you knew John, you were lucky, if he was your friend or were family, you were blessed.
In my mind, he was always the person you wanted on your team, or any trip, any project, any hunt, any game….didn’t matter, if he was around, things would always be more fun and interesting.
Side note, he and his brother Denny are credited with pelting me harder with snowballs than other people did the entire time I grew up in Wisconsin. Just Slightly competitive like me, which was awesome!
In this family we are fortunate to be related to so many precious people. Past and present siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents alike, having taught us many things about life, but Johnny was also kind, helpful, made days more fun, stories mote fantastic and loved to stop in and visit if you were in town.
Lastly, He and a few others taught me a critical Deer hunting lesson; you are not supposed to fall asleep in your Deer Stand when other guys are hiking the woods for you…to flush the deer your way….years of laughs to say the least… sorry Johnny.
Thank you for talking to my dad on weekends because you really lifted his spirits and always made him laugh and it meant more to him than you know. He thought he was checking on you but you, were again, still helping others.
Johnny, we love you and your contagious laughter, timeless stories and love for life, will be missed forever.
My condolences to all on the passing of this ambassador of goodness and fun! We served together on the OFD and were part of the loyal fans of Hilltopper basketball! Always a smile, a waive, and a ”Hi Huggy Bear”!
RIP Johnny!🙏❤️😊
Sorry to hear of John’s passing. John was always a pleasant person. RIP John 🩵
Johnny: Mere words cannot describe the void you leave behind. You were a tried-and-true friend to all. There never was a time where you would not help someone and if they were strangers, you made them into great friends from then on. God never created a kinder more compassionate soul, you truly had love for all of mankind. Your dedicated service to the people of Onalaska will never be forgotten. In short, Johnny you were a giant among men, and we love you.
Rest in Peace, John. Thanks for the joy that you so freely shared.
Jonny ,
My dear cousin that always kept me laughing and smiling every time I would stop over at the Every house.. you will be missed more then I can express and always enjoyed seeing out for breakfast at Tom Sawyers .. until we meet again Amy sue
Our condolences to the Every family in this time of sorrow. John was a wonderful neighbor and friend to my parents in their later years at Fifth & Pearl. John routinely checked in with them , and kindly assisted with outside chores on occasion. He will be missed!
Onalaska has lost a legendary guy. Of the nicknames he had for us all, mine throughout our high school days was “Earl.” It was ONE time I oops’d, and he never let me forget it. Bless his soul. My sympathies to all of his beautiful family and friends he leaves behind on earth. See ya on the other side, Earl.
I am sending condolences to the Every family on behalf of my late husband, Ken Eglinton. I know that John was a favorite of Ken when John was a student in my husband’s shop class at Onalaska High School. I last saw John at Festival Foods several years back. He said that he wanted to take me to lunch sometime. Johnny, I’m sorry we never had that lunch date. You were one of the happiest people I knew in spite of all your medical problems. I hope that you and Ken are having a long visit about those good, old days in shop class!
Sorry to hear about John. Condolences He was a year ahead of me in high school. John was a great guy. Hope he is at peace now.
John, you will be truly missed! You were always nice to me in High School. Each time I saw an Every Plumbing truck, I looked for you. You always waved when I saw you. You are a great guy!