John Michael Riley

John Michael Riley

November 1, 1951 – June 26, 2026

John Michael Riley, age 74, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026. Born on November 1, 1951, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, John grew up in the Bay View neighborhood and graduated from Bay View High School in 1969. In his teenage years and early twenties, John was a bit of a rebel with a deep sense of adventure. In a legendary chapter of his youth, when he was 21 years old, he and a group of friends from Milwaukee packed up and moved down to Key West, Florida. They built a tree hut on top of a lion’s cage in the woods and spent an unforgettable summer partying—right up until the sheriff's deputies arrived, shut down the operation, and arrested everyone inside.

While he worked various odd jobs in Milwaukee early on—including a factory position at Ladish Co.—he eventually moved to Madison, where he spent most of his life and raised his family.

John was a man who loved working with his hands. After working in the auto repair business and a brief stint selling insurance, he spent 17 years working as a technician for the phone company until his retirement, a role that allowed him to use those hands-on skills. He also worked as a newspaper carrier in Madison for many years.

To know John was to know his deep passion for anything on wheels or in the world of sports. A true car enthusiast, he took immense pride in the vehicles he owned throughout his life, most notably his 1963 Austin-Healey, a Camaro, a 1969 Ford Mustang, and two Corvettes ('05 and '07). When he wasn't tinkering with cars, he was an avid sports fan, happily watching everything from football, basketball, and baseball to golf, racing, and bowling. He also absolutely loved going camping, finding great joy in spending time outdoors. John was remarkably active; in his later years, prior to his illness, he developed a love for sailing and bicycling. He possessed an impressive athleticism, routinely crushing multiple "century rides" (100-mile bike rides) in a single summer.

John was a wonderful grandfather who loved his grandchildren deeply, and he treasured the time he got to spend with them. He is survived by his children, Justin (Kristi) Riley of Jefferson, WI, and their children, Lauralee and Oliver Riley; and Anika Wolf of Massachusetts. He is also survived by his sister, Cindy (Rob) Zaleski of Madison, and three nieces, Amy, Kerry, and Jessica. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall and Patricia Riley of Eagle, WI.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff at Reena Senior Living in Fort Atkinson and Rainbow Hospice Care in Johnson Creek for their exceptional compassion and support during his final days.

Celebration of Life Details:

A small celebration of life for John's closest friends and family will be held in the Waupaca-King area on Sunday, July 26, 2026, after which family and friends are invited to gather for a late lunch to share memories and celebrate John's life at one of his favorite spots, Clearwater Harbor

Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home is proudly serving the family.