John Dunlevy

John J. Dunlevy, 83, a lifelong resident of Lansing, died Saturday December 4, 2021 at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI. Interment with graveside services will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing at a later date with Fr. Sean Smith officiating. A memorial service and celebration of life is also being planned by the family for next Spring.

John was born May 23, 1938, the son of Michael “Joe” Dunlevy and Ethel Casey. He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1956 and attended the State Teachers College in La Crosse, WI. John graduated in 1961 with a BS in English and Spanish. He taught high school Spanish for several years in various schools in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin before returning to Lansing in 1969 to take over ownership as editor of The Allamakee Journal from his father.

He married Frederica Grant November 15, 1969 in Freeport, IL. They raised three children in Lansing and later divorced in 1990 but remained lifelong friends.

John’s passion and pride as editor of The Allamakee Journal was much more than producing a weekly publication; it was publishing a newspaper that captured the heartbeat of a small river town and the surrounding communities. One of his proudest pieces of work was his contribution to The Journal’s 100th year Anniversary Edition, January 23, 1980, where he reflected on the progress of the community and paid tribute to his father and grandfather for their contributions to The Journal.

He would often be seen carrying his camera over his shoulder, ready for any candid photo opportunity. The small notepad and pen tucked inside his front shirt pocket were signs that he was always prepared to write someone’s story. These stories brought people together. John was rigorous about grammar and punctuation. His children recall how he delighted in finding typographical errors in other print media.

They weren’t sure what he loved more, bird hunting or the English language. He willingly offered advice to anyone who reached out to him for help with writing assignments. He was always looking for a better way to say something and he had one objective - to get it right. He was a mentor in journalism and photography to many. Allamakee County and the surrounding Coulee Region offered the perfect canvas to showcase the outdoors through his pen and lens.

John was the third generation in his family’s operation of the newspaper. He held this position until 1988 when The Journal was sold and consolidated due to the rising costs of ink and paper; a hardship faced by many small family-owned newspapers. Selling the newspaper was a painful decision.

He later worked at Northern Engraving until his retirement. John traveled to Mexico and Spain on several occasions to immerse himself in the Spanish language that he so passionately studied in college. His fluency remained steadfast over the years. Multiple trips to Canada to hunt ducks, geese and fish for walleyes, northern pike and bass were just destinations to John - just like his trips to North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska to hunt for pheasants and partridge.

His beloved Lansing could never be compared to any other place. Its beauty was defined by the people and the scenery so splendid. No vacation spot came close to the treasure that surrounded him every day in Lansing.

John called the Lansing community home for 83 years. It was here, often in the backwaters of the mighty Mississippi, where he would navigate the waters in his Johnboat, looking for the perfect place to cast a line or dunk a worm. It is here where he learned to always respect the river. Bringing in a day’s catch and sharing with friends was something he looked forward to. Sitting in a humble duck blind and calling in a flock of mallards was his connection to Mother Nature.

A Labrador would accompany him at the bow of the boat. Mister was his favorite companion, but Jack was perhaps his most accomplished hunting dog. John had many well-trained retrievers over the years that accompanied him on hunting trips; too many to mention! A cup of morning coffee at daybreak, shared with locals, was a ritual his entire adult life. He cherished conversations.

John’s annual handmade Christmas card was something friends and family looked forward to finding in their mailbox. He always included familiar faces and places to capture small town life. Looking over the bluff on Mt. Hosmer was a view he described as breathtaking and one of a kind - he was right. In late October, he said it was a garden scene to behold. He would often tell strangers to make a point of trekking up the hill - a view he would proclaim was worthy of every step and breath.

John was a historian of Lansing’s rich history. He told stories, recollected events and shared them frequently so that the hard work and dedication of others would never be forgotten.

Intrigued by pigeons, the coop he tended to in his back yard as a lad would lead him to sit underneath the Black Hawk Bridge and ponder their flight. John appreciated the majesty and direction of this bridge and the river traffic underneath its canopy. It was a connection to many things, past and present. He knew we all needed connections, to keep going. He was often fascinated watching towboats handle a 90-degree turn, with skill.

Recently, he followed the fate of this bridge and dreaded seeing the day Old Black Hawk would be replaced. He, like so many of his friends, grew up with this beauty in his backyard. The echoes and familiar hum of vehicles passing over became symbolic of something greater than steel. They were sounds of comfort and reassurance that he was home. John’s boyhood and adult memories were rooted and etched in Lansing.

John was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Dunlevy; his sisters, Colleen and Margaret Dunlevy and Mary Jo Hartwig; and his brothers-in-law, Robert Hartwig and James Fitzpatrick.

John is survived by his three children, David (Elimele) Dunlevy of Gilbert, AZ, Martha (Eric) Peters of Kansas City, MO and Johanna Dunlevy, of Des Moines; eight grandchildren, Isabella and Annaliese Dunlevy, Sean, Connor, Teagan, Quinn and Kathleen Peters, and Audrey Smerud; a sister, Catherine “Kitty” Fitzpatrick of Sun Prairie, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

John’s family would like to thank everyone for their love and support during this difficult time. To honor John, support local merchants, they are the town’s lifeblood.