John Peter Biwersi

With overwhelming love, we announce the passing of John Peter Biwersi, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who passed away on November 7, 2026, following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Born on March 12, 1947, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, to Sylvester and Cora Biwersi, the owners of Warren Park Grocery. John grew up with a natural curiosity for anything mechanical and a remarkable capacity for working with his hands. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and graduated from Baraboo High School, where he met his future wife, Margaret Goethel. John attended college at UW-Eau Claire, followed by UW-Madison, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. He spent his entire 42-year career as a mechanical engineer and plant manager at 3M, working in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Wausau, Wisconsin. 

Outside of his work at 3M, John loved anything with an engine—from the go-kart he built using a lawnmower engine to his treasured '56 Chevy (which he upgraded with a Corvette engine), as well as motorcycles, snowmobiles, trucks, and especially his GMC motorhome. All of these vehicles were meticulously maintained, modified, and upgraded by John, who even invented improved parts for them. Some of his “inventions” were lovingly nicknamed, a “John Biwersi Special,” such as the camper/trailer he designed from a flatbed of a Ford truck.

His mechanical talents extended far beyond motorized vehicles. As the saying goes, "He could fix anything except the crack of dawn and a broken heart." When John accepted his job at 3M, they decided to build a home from the ground up in Afton, Minnesota. John did it all— plumbing, electrical, roofing, and more. He was always willing to help his children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, and colleagues with any project put before him. 

In a letter containing his final wishes, John writes how lucky he was to have devoted parents, a loving wife, three wonderful children, an engaging career, and a positive outcome of potentially tragic car accident with his entire family.  But we are the lucky ones to have known and loved him whole-heartedly.

John is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Margaret Biwersi; his three children, Rita Purtell (Rob), Joe Biwersi, and Cathlin Flamme (Eric); and his five cherished grandchildren, David, Natallie, Michael, Elisebeth, and Alexander. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Sylvester and Cora Biwersi.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. with Father Paul Arinze officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John Biwersi’s memory to the Alzheimer's Association.

If you are so inclined to give a toast to John, please raise a glass of Point Special Lager or Gentleman Jack Whiskey and say as he would, “This is how we lost the farm!”