Obituary of John Hervey Short

JOHN H. SHORT, of Gills Rock, Door County Wisconsin, joined the Angel Band on the morning of Christmas Day. He was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on May 20, 1945, the eldest of John and Anne Short's five children and the first grandson of his paternal and maternal grandparents. He was a graduate of Edgewood High School, Class of 1963. He was a National Merit Scholar and participated in many extra-curricular activities. He had several leading roles in school plays, received a trophy as the MVP on the track team, and played tackle on the football team. He graduated from UW-Madison in 1967 and UW Law School in 1970. He spent the next 40 years practicing law in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and joined the firm of Vance, Wilcox and Short in 1979. He was on the faculty of the Wisconsin Judicial College, which he considered a great honor. He retired on August 31, 2010, and was living in Door County at the time of his death. John loved life. He was an active volunteer in his community. He loved sailing on Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay. He was an expert skier, founding member of the Old Fort Atkinson Racing Team and participated in 10 Birkebeiners. A talented musician, he performed with a popular blue grass combo. His family will fondly remember the gourmet meals he cooked for birthdays and holidays. He is survived by his wife Tracey; a daughter, Julie Short of Fort Atkinson, a son John William Short; step-daughters Tamara and Nadyne Belstsner of Madison; granddaughters: Annika and Jenka; mother, Anne Short of Madison; sisters: Anne (Rene') Berblinger of Portland, Oregon and Elizabeth (Stephen) Sanders of Portland, Maine; brothers: Michael (Monica) Short of Albany, New York and Patrick (Ruth) Short of Portland, Oregon; nieces and nephews: Laurel, Tobias, Stephen Patrick (Pat) Sanders, John Nicholas, David, Daniel, Cowan and Fiona; grandnieces and nephews: Risa, Zak, Sammy and John Jackson. His father, John Edward Short preceded him in death. Memorial services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 314 Barrie Street, Fort Atkinson, with Pastor Bryan Engfer presiding, at noon on Friday, December 31, visitation from 10am until the service. Because of the holidays there will be no lunch after the service. A celebration of John's life will be scheduled at a later date. Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home, Jefferson, is assisting the family. Those who wish to make a donation in John's honor are encouraged to consider Altrusa International Foundation, Inc. of Green Bay, PO Box 5521, De Pere, WI 54115 or Rainbow Hospice Inc. of Jefferson County. On line condolences may be made at www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com