Joshua J. Gscheidmeier

On the morning of November 15, 2024, Joshua J. Gscheidmeier unexpectedly passed away, and was welcomed into eternal life. Born in Waukesha, WI on February 27, 1976, he was just 48 years young, already with a lifetime’s worth of achievements. He is preceded in death by his parents Gary (father) and Barb (mother), and is survived by his wife Novia, daughters Gabrielle, Olivia, Elizabeth, Genevieve, and brothers John (Samantha) and Jason (Kate). Apart from being a devoted father and brother, he was a loving uncle, beloved cousin, and friend to many.

At a young age, Josh met his lifelong best friends in the Woodridge neighborhood, growing up in a tight community of neighbors who loved him. Throughout high school at Catholic Memorial, his love for sports shined through his excellence in track and field, even earning a conference champion award with his teammates. He excelled in displaying his ability to balance academics and athletics while working many hours at the local Pick ‘N’ Save, something of which he was forever proud. His next chapter in life brought him to UW-Milwaukee, pursuing a degree in accounting, where he also continued his love for sports through various bar leagues with close friends. It was in this era when he decided to join the Air National Guard.

Throughout his life, Josh passionately committed 27 years to the Air Force, completing many deployments that took him to Kuwait, Hawaii, Alaska, Germany, Iraq, and Spain (his favorite). Until his departure, he continued to devote many hours to the Honor Guard, working to bring tribute to many veterans and their families during military funerals around Wisconsin. Apart from his military service, he volunteered with his family at the Salvation Army, ringing bells, singing, and serving the Christmas day family feast. Recently, he volunteered to pin veterans at a retirement community this past Veteran’s Day to honor their service to this country. When he wasn’t volunteering, he continued to find ways to help others, including his annual Christmas morning shoveling for various neighbors, often enlisting the help of his family. Josh was a proud American and was absolutely honored to serve his country and others.

Many knew Josh for his love of music, as he would attend concerts and festivals, always seeking opportunities to dance and sing to his favorite tunes and artists. You could find him through the summers often close to the Milwaukee Riverfront at the Summerfest grounds, sharing beers and memories with friends and family, along with the occasional Brewers game. As a Packers season ticket holder, his love for good times and football also extended to Green Bay at Lambeau Field. He was kind to all and had a knack for fitting into any group in which he found himself. He is known to some for being able to get an entire room singing “Sweet Caroline,” a staple song in his music collection. It didn’t matter if you were a friend, family, or a stranger, he would make you feel included and always helped clean up the party no matter who was throwing it.

His devotion to his daughters, though, exceeded all. He was steadfastly loyal to his family, committing countless weekends traveling to sporting events, often not in the same state. His favorite ways to spend quality time with his girls were through music and dance parties in the kitchen, yard work (picking weeds was his favorite), playing Monopoly, and shopping trips. The annual Black Friday shopping tradition at Johnson Creek was a testament to his enjoyment of the giving season. In his later years, a new tradition of donuts on Saturdays and church on Sundays with his youngest, Gigi (or “The Geeg” to him), had become a new favorite. He loved his girls and tried his hardest to give them the world he thought they deserved.

“You did a great job doing just that, Dad. We will forever and always miss and love you and hope you will continue to watch over us as we continue in your memory and carry on your legacy.

May our dad rest peacefully and be reunited with loved ones, his parents, and late friends.”

We invite friends and family to participate in a Celebration of Life on December 16, 2024 at Northbrook Church in Richfield, Wisconsin. Visitation will take place from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, with a service at 2:00 PM, followed by military honors. There will be a virtual viewing option for the service and military honors for those who are unable to attend.

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