Jason John Guenzel, age 54, passed away April 30, 2025, at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Jason was born on October 3, 1970, in Shawano, Wisconsin. Jason is the son of Donna Mae Baker and John Charles, Guenzel, both born and raised in Shawano. Jason's mother kept the family home for over 30 years at 520 W. Richmond St. in Shawano, where their children, Jason and Jennifer, were raised. Jason was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School through eighth grade. He graduated from Shawano High School in 1988. Jason loved sports, which included playing basketball, baseball, and football throughout school. Piano lessons were a part of his early childhood and Jason loved to sing, unfortunately, his singing was a bit off key, but we listened. He attended prom every year and was the sophomore representative of Shawano homecoming.

After high school graduation, Jason attended UW Stevens Point. During college, Jason worked at a private youth camp in northern Wisconsin for a couple of summers. He loved nature, so working as a tour guide, teaching children about nature, hiking, and taking canoe trips, was a job he loved.

Jason thought a lot of his little sister and would often take her along with his college buddies, to concerts and skiing trips. Even though there was a five-year age difference, Jason was always very protective of his little sister… making their parents very proud.

Upon returning to Shawano after college, Jason worked for T&C Supermarket, where he became the assistant manager. The owner's son, Mike Tadych, was the manager, and the two became very good friends.

Jason was an avid reader and absorbed everything he read. In his later years, people at work often sought him out for the answer to something… he was very proud of this.

When he was young, Jason's favorite local band was "Burnt Toast and Jam". Jennifer loved that band too. There were a few times Jason and Jennifer's mother invited the band to home and fed them after a long night of playing. Who knew that many years later, "Burnt Toast and Jam" would play for Jason's wedding reception?

Jason enjoyed many types of music, from hard rock to classical easy listening. He was very fond of Frank Sinatra and was fortunate enough to see Frank at McCormick Place in Chicago during Sinatra's later years. Jason collected many of Frank's books and recordings. One special song called, "(I Did It) My Way" was the famous verse which fit with Jason's motto. After Jason and Deena James moved back to Shawano, they started dating and were married on September 14, 1996, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano. Shortly after the wedding, the couple decided to venture off to somewhere more exciting, which took them to Denver, Colorado. They loved it there, especially hiking and camping in the Rockies. Eventually, they bought a beautiful home in the Highland Ranch area, a suburb towards the foothills of the Rockies. Jason began his career as a mortgage broker, where he was very successful and at one point, had his own business, which he ran out of their home.

The couple have three children, Tucker, Gracie, and Sawyer, all living with her mother Deena, in a suburb of Denver, Colorado while they attend college. Jason is also survived by his sister, Jennifer Guenzel and her son, who both live in Suring, and a stepbrother, Adam Guenzel of Minnesota.

Jason was a major sports fan, enjoyed hiking and camping in the Rockies with his children, and loved to grill at home. His specialties were steak, lobster and often his mother's recipe for breaded pork chops.

Jason's last home was in Omro, Wisconsin, where he lived with his best friend Redlin, his dog, which he named after the artist, Terri Redlin. He collected many Redlin prints. Jason was quite happy in his last home, which was perfectly suited for a single man. His huge yard kept him very busy.

We would like to thank Buck Rosenberg (Jason and Deena's longtime friend), who lived near Jason in Oshkosh, for his daily visits to the hospital, checking on his home, finding a place for his canine companion, Redlin, to stay, and carrying out any task that was requested. Most of all, updating the family members on Jason's condition, even though family was widespread. Buck went above and beyond for Jason and his family… our family. Saying thank you for all you have done is not enough. Buck, you will be cherished in our hearts and loved forever. God bless you and we wish you a long and happy life.

Jason's wishes were to be cremated. Many traveling arrangements were necessary, hence the delay in a full obituary.