John A. Proko, long-time funeral director and founder of the Proko Funeral Home died, Sunday November 1, 2026, at the age of 96. For more than seven decades, John had been a fixture within the funeral profession comforting generations of Kenosha area families.
John was born, May 15, 1930, in Pulaski, WI, to the late Mahlon and Rosamond (Gajewski) Prokopovitz. On June 8, 1949, John married Magdalene “Maggie” Ullmer.
In 1953, he graduated from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science and received his funeral director’s license. John spent his early career working at the Borgwardt Funeral Home in West Allis, WI for nine years.
On May 15, 1962, John purchased a funeral home in Kenosha that would go on to bear his name and become the trusted multi-generational firm that continues to be family-owned transitioning from his son Larry to his granddaughter Rachael.
Known throughout the state for his leadership in the profession, John was a former President of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association (WFDA) and was honored with a special citation celebrating his historic 70-plus years of active dedicated service to the profession. Even into his 90’s, John continued to be present for those families who looked to him for comfort.
Beyond his professional calling, John was a man of boundless energy and civic duty. In 1963 he was honored as Man of the Year by the Kenosha Jaycees, and he later proudly served as President of the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce—which named him Business Man of the Year in 2002. John also served as President of the Kenosha Public Museum, and the new public museum was built during his presidency. He served as President of the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha, as a member of the city Airport Commission, as a board member of the Bank of Kenosha, and as an Advisory Board Member for the Kenosha Hospice Alliance. He was also a member of the 306 Club.
John gave generously of himself. He was a regular blood donor at the Blood Center of Kenosha and in 2013 was recognized for donating more than 100 units. As a cancer survivor, he served on the steering committee for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, as well as an honorary chairman.
Deeply religious, John was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was honored for an extraordinary 70 years of service as a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He served as part of the Immaculate Mother Mary Council, number 14362, under Archbishop Messmer, Assembly 1201. He was also a member of the Kenosha Serra Club.
John enjoyed many forms of adventure throughout his life. At the age of 17 he learned to fly. His love of flying went on to include owning a series of planes, running a charter service, being a member of the Flying Funeral Directors of America, and being a charter member of both the Wisconsin Aeronauts Commission and the American Bonanza Society. In total John logged over 5,000 hours of piloted air flight. John had been an avid snow skier highlighted by a trip to the Swiss Alps. He purchased his first Harley at age 68, and his most extraordinary ride was a journey of more than 5,000 miles from Fairbanks, Alaska. At age 50, John began running and did so for many years until the run became a walk and even then, completed nine miles a week. For many years he ran in the Mayor’s Turkey Day Run, proudly showing off his medals. He especially enjoyed vacationing in Florida and spending time with his family in Waupaca’s Chain O’ Lakes.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Magdalene "Maggie" Proko; and siblings, Elinor (Clayton), Mahlon (Lucille), Paul (Phyllis), David, and Mary Ann (Robert).
His survivors include his children, Kay (Bill) Dreher, Don (Kelly) Proko, Lynn (Jim) Siering, Larry (Tammy) Proko, Carole (Nelson) Thulin, and Gail Proko; as well as eleven grandchildren, Dr. Stephanie (Nick) Momper, Rebecca (Troy) Herrera, Elizabeth (Kevin) Sand, Michael DiCello III, Joel (Penelope) DiCello, Cheryl (Naoya) DiCello, Rachael (Dreu) Proko-Viola, Leah (Andy) Pitts, Spencer Thulin, Paige (India) Thulin, and Noah Thulin; and 14 great-grandchildren.
To describe John is to include the following: hardworking, loyal, generous, funny, driven, loving, sympathetic, honest, full of energy and passionate. He was a businessman, a husband, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and friend that we all looked up to.
We love you more than you could ever understand.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Proko Funeral Home with a Knights of Columbus service at 6:45 pm, and from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon on Friday, November 6, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church 7307 40th Avenue, Kenosha, WI. Mass of Christian Burial will commence at 12:00 noon Friday. Interment will follow in St. James Cemetery, Kenosha, WI. Those desiring may make contributions in John’s memory to Hospice Alliance or to the St. Mary Catholic Church Building Fund.