Jack Letourneau

MADISON/MILWAUKEE- Jack LeTourneau, beloved by many in the music business as a well-known audio sound engineer for numerous bands and music venues throughout Midwest and internationally, passed away Tuesday evening, June 27, 2017, at the age of 65 due to cancer. Jack was born to Joseph and Catherine LeTourneau in Madison, WI on December 12th, 1951. He attended St. James Grade School and graduated from Madison West High School. Like many young men growing up in the mid-60's, he was attracted to the music of the Beatles. He formed a small band with high school friends as a guitar player performing at local festivals, clubs and other events. However, his greatest talent evolved into sound engineer and music producing. He sound engineered at many Madison music venue's including Bunky's and Merlins where artists such as Elvis Costello, Eddie Money and The Police appeared. Jack joined Dr. Bop and The Headliners in the mid-80's and 90's as their sound man while occasionally joining them on stage playing guitar and singing old Buddy Holly songs.

Throughout his career, Jack worked with notable artists of Blues and Rock music including Ben Sidran, Clyde Stubblefield, Butch Vig and Garbage, Billy Branch, Pat MacDonald, Bobby Messano, Freedy Johnston and Tim Davis, among others. In a little known aspect of his career, Jack collaborated with long-time friend and Sky Show Director Mark Paternostro and artist Laurie Anderson to produce the soundtrack for TimeSpace, the Infinite Adventure, for Chicago's Adler Planetarium where he was an active member and long-time volunteer..

Jack loved the sound studio. Never forgetting his roots, he worked with many young bands trying to find their way in the music business. He joined Chicago's famed Paragon studio in the mid-1990's working with Rock and Blues artists, earning 8 Grammy nominations. Jack was also involved with early house music in Chicago, working the soundboard for artists such as Joe Smooth and Frankie Knuckles which was part of the beginning of Hip-Hop. In 2005, he helped to establish the former E-Labs studio in Madison. He then connected with another long-time friend, Gary Kuhn at his suburban Milwaukee studio to create more music projects.

Jack is preceded in death by his father, Joseph. He is survived by his mother, Catherine LeTourneau, brother James (Rose) LeTourneau of Madison and his niece, Christina LeTourneau of La Ciotat, France. He is also survived by his many cousins of the LeTourneau-Caravello family. There are way too many people to thank that can be included in this message, but the family specifically wants to sincerely thank "Team Jack" members, Gary and Julie Kuhn of Milwaukee, along with Mark Paternostro and Colleen Duke of Chicago. They were with Jack from the beginning of his ordeal right to the end, providing morale and emotional support while organizing financial aid projects. Jack also relished his membership in the Madison Italian Workmen's Club. Their support and that of the Italian-American Women's Club is deeply appreciated by the family.

Jack was defiant right to the end despite knowing his cancer was irreversible. His last written words the day he passed away were, "I'm not giving up!"

Visitation will be Monday, July 3rd from 10 to 11am at GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC PARISH AT ST JAMES CHURCH, 1128 St. James Court, Madison. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am followed immediately by internment at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Lifecare Hospital, of Waukesha, WI, or the Madison Area Music Association MAMA Cares funding program.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434