MADISON - John William “Bill” Borchert, 89, passed away on April 12, 2026, five weeks before his 90th birthday, at Complete Care at Maple Grove in Madison. He was born on May 17, 1936, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, the son of Mary R. (Cross) Borchert and John H. Borchert.

Bill attended grade school in Verona and St. Bernard’s Catholic School in Madison. He graduated from Central High School in Madison in 1954. Following graduation, he attended MATC and worked for Manchester’s before being drafted into the U.S. Army at age 22. Upon returning home on leave, he married Bernita “Bunny” Morton on July 10, 1959, prior to going overseas where he was stationed in Germany as a Signal Core Parts Specialist. Upon his return from Germany, he and Bunny made their home in Madison and raised their two daughters while Bill continued to serve in the Army Reserves for four years. He worked at Morton Maintenance Services and Schlitz Beer Company (now Frank Beer Distributors) for 22 years as a beer delivery truck driver/salesman and later as a Tap System Installer.

He later pursued further education at MATC for his Refrigeration degree and started his own business, Southern Wisconsin Refrigeration, where he repaired and installed large walk-in coolers in bars and restaurants for 15 years. He also went on to marry Nancy (Zein) Bois and they made their home in Monona, then Madison and spent many Wisconsin winters in Florida.

Bill was an avid sportsman and loved going deer hunting with his friends and family and enjoyed loading his own ammo. He also went on many fishing trips and camping vacations across the country. To his family, it seemed he knew just about everyone, as they could take him anywhere on vacation and he would run into someone he knew!

He was very proud of his German/Irish heritage and his lifelong membership to the Elks Club. He enjoyed reading and watching western novels and movies, learning about science, gardening and collecting antique black powder guns. One of his most enjoyable hobbies was cooking and he loved to share his baked goods with family and friends. Bill was also a comedic jokester, one of the best “bull shitters” around and he loved a good beer and Wisconsin fish fry.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased in death by a younger brother, Thomas Borchert of Dubuque, Iowa; step-son, John Bois of Minnesota; his second wife, Nan Bois; a great-granddaughter, Mercedes Kohlhardt of Sun Prairie; and his beloved dog, Daisy.

He is survived by his two loving daughters, Roylene (Greg) Galbraith of Cottage Grove and Lisa (Kurt) Kuwitzky of Cottage Grove; four grandsons, Matt (Anke) Kohlhardt of Madison, Josh (Cassie) Galbraith of Deerfield, David Galbraith of Madison and Conrad Kuwitzky of Cottage Grove; four great-grandchildren, Annika Stimac, Bentley Miko-Kohlhardt and Violet and Brooks Galbraith; his first wife and friend, Bunny Borchert; brothers, Mike (Lynn) Borchert and Jim (Gloria) Borchert and sister-in-law, Mary Borchert and their families. He is also survived by his step-sons, Jerry (Tammy) Bois and Richard Bois as well as Denise Bois, along with their families; and his longtime friend, Phil Baker.

Our dad was the toughest guy we knew and he was never afraid of anything (or at least he didn’t show it). Considering all he had been through medically in his later years, he was always a happy person and really enjoyed having visitors and the simple things in life.

We would like to thank the VA Hospital and staff, in Madison, for their outstanding care; Judy, his favorite home care nurse and Emily his Care Manager at MyChoice whose help allowed him to stay in his home as long as possible. We would also like to thank the staff at Complete Care and Agrace Hospice for caring for him for the last two months. Also, big thanks to many of our immediate family members who helped us care for him in many ways.

He will be very much missed as well as his unique sense of humor that kept us all laughing, but we are happy that he had a long life filled with lots of love. We love you, Dad!

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Sunday. Interment with military honors will take place following the service at Highland Memory Gardens, 3054 County Highway BB, Cottage Grove, with a luncheon to follow at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

John W Borchert

May 17, 1936 - April 12, 2026

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