John Tews

John Veeder Tews passed away on June 22, 2022.   John was born in 1927 in Waukesha, Wisconsin to Arthur C. and Miriam Tews (Veeder).  John moved to Madison in his early teens and graduated from West High. John was a World War II veteran.  He attended the Army Service Training Program in Houghton, MI at the Michigan School of Mining and Technology in 1945 before joining the Army Signal Corps and heading to Korea.  He returned to Madison in 1947 where he lived for the rest of his life.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1951 and spent most of his working career as a U. S. Postal Service supervisor.

John married Jean Kring on April 7, 1956, whom he met under the mistletoe in 1953. By 1964 they had built their dream home on Lake Mendota Drive, where they lived until moving to Oakwood in 2006.  Daughter Anne (Bill Gardner) joined them in 1959.  John is survived by his wife and daughter, two grandchildren, Glen and Brooke Gardner, two siblings, Barbara Olson and Thomas Tews, two nieces and two nephews.   His parents, sister Harriet Tews, and one nephew preceded him in death.

John loved to travel with Jean.  They visited all 50 states and many European, South American and Central American countries. After retirement they went on many cruises and took annual winter trips to the Southwest.  John enjoyed gardening and was known for his beautiful daylilies.  One travel highlight was the Badger Honor flight he took with his daughter to Washington DC in 2014.

John’s Funeral will be Friday, July 1 at the First Unitarian Society, Madison. Private burial will be at a different time.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agrace, the First Unitarian Society or Oakwood Lutheran Home.