John L. Touchett Sr.

John L. Touchett Sr., 83, of Brookfield, of the Wisconsin family that invented and marketed the paint roller and paint trays, died Saturday, November 5, 2016, at his winter home in Boca Grande, Florida. The cause was a heart attack.

John served as president of EZ Paintr Co., of suburban St. Francis. The company was founded in 1945 in Fond du Lac by his father, Vern, who invented and patented the paint roller and accompanying paint tray. The company later moved to Butler and then to St. Francis. In 1974, it was acquired by Newell Corp., a world-wide marketer of consumer and commercial products. John continued as EZ Paintr president and later supervised Newell’s acquisitions of other companies.

John Louis Touchett was born in Fond du Lac on February 25, 1933. After the family moved to the Milwaukee area, he attended Messmer High School, graduating in 1951. He also attended Marquette University. While at Messmer, John met his future wife, Jo Ann Fink. They married on September 1, 1953. They had three children:  John Jr. of Long Lake; Thomas (Susan), of Hartland, and Susan Moody, who died in 2001. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by three sisters, Sheila Touchett; Jackie Omdahl, and Yvonne Werra; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and Trent (Beth) Moody. John will be missed by longtime friends, Father Richard “Dick” Lesniak and Bob Clark, other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Lorraine Touchett; his brother, Terrence Touchett; his daughter, Susan Moody, and grandson, Timothy Touchett.

Memorial Gathering at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Sunday, November 13 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Additional Gathering on Monday, November 14 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM with a Eulogy at 12:45 followed by Funeral Mass at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital appreciated.

John was a contributor to many charitable organizations. He was an avid aviator well into retirement, especially flying seaplanes, and served as a member of the board of Seaplane Pilot Association. He was also a boater and a fisherman.