John F. Zoerb

John F. Zoerb, 98, of La Crosse, died on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. John was born on August 27, 1927 in La Crosse to John “Hans” and Isabella (Berck) Zoerb. Growing up with two younger brothers in the Greenhouse and Floral Shop at La Crosse Floral meant plenty of “dirt” piles to play in. John graduated from Central High School in 1945 and graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UW-Madison. While in Madison, John competed in the Wisconsin State Journal Photography Contest, judged by Ansel Adams. John placed first. John married Gloria (Moulis) Zoerb on June 9, 1952. On their wedding night they were kidnapped by Dave (a groomsman) ad Betty Raatz to attend a La Crosse Camera Club Banquet. They were subsequently released to honeymoon in Door County, which they returned to for over 50 years. Although Gloria died in 2013, John and his daughter Linda continued on with travel to the South Island of New Zealand in 2010, seven more trips to Iceland, the last one in January of 2017, circling Ireland and Northern Ireland in the fall of 2011, and Scotland in the fall of 2017. Travel equaled incredible photographs for John. His eye for photography gave him an incredible eye for design, often exhibited in macro photography.

John was in the US Navy for both WWII and the Korean War. He loved visiting the WWII Ship in Riverside Park and in 2023- per him “it is missing the Pepsi machine and the cigarette tiny office”, other than being identical to the ship he took out of San Diego. His ship was a “repair ship” to go out in the ocean and fix ships that were operable but needed repair. John ended up back at La Crosse Floral where he did all of the seeding of crops and handled the houseplant area. Plus, he kept an eye on the physical condition of the boilers and general upkeep of the greenhouses - lots of glass repair after hailstorms teetering above the greenhouse benches.

John’s interest in photography began in grade school when he used his Dad’s folding Kodak Camera to illustrate a paper on soil erosion. For years he has won awards in national and international competitions.

John is survived by his daughter Linda Zoerb, his very special companion Pat Seubert, daughter-in-law Faith Zoerb, niece Sheri and Randy Thompson, brother Richard (Margaret Anne) Zoerb, grandchildren Nathan Wilczynski, Quentin Wilczynski, Kevin Zoerb and Tamara Zoerb, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Isabella Zoerb, his wife Gloria Zoerb, his son Kevin Zoerb, his brother Fritz Zoerb, his father and mother-in-law, Martin and Irene Moulis, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Marcie Johnson, his sister-in-law Louise and nephew Karl Zoerb.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM at English Lutheran Church, 1509 King Street, La Crosse. Pastor Becky Goche will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral & Cremation Services of La Crosse on Monday from 4:00 – 7:00 PM and at the church on Tuesday form 10:00 AM until the time of services. FLOWERS are most welcome.

John LOVED Door County. Memorials may be sent to The Ridges Sanctuary, Inc., PO Box 152, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202, http://www.ridgessanctuary.org, online donations at https://21667a.blackbaudhosting.com/21667a/Memorial-Contribution, or to English Lutheran Church. Linda wishes to thank the staff at Havenwood, and members of the La Crosse Camera Club. He will be greatly missed.