John "Rocky" L. Stafford, age 67, of Dane passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at Madison VA hospital with loved ones by his side.

Rocky is preceded in death by his father, John L. Stafford Sr., his grandparents, and many aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his mother Carol Neis (Joe), daughter Kayleen Soden (Scott); siblings, Timothy Stafford, Ty Stafford, Cindy Kilman (Harold), Lisa Stafford – Setz (David), Jodi Stafford, as well as beloved grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life with light refreshments, May 24th 1pm to 5pm at Dalton Town Hall. W6368 East Pine St Dalton, WI 53926

Please read Rocky’s story in his own words:

Johnny, John, “Jack”, “Rocky” Stafford

My life in my own words. I mostly grew up around Dalton, WI area, out on WM on Dayne’s rental property. I hunted deer with my dad and brothers. Mostly deer drivers in the beginning, eventually earning the option of actually getting to carry a single shot 20 gauge shotgun. Dad said that was so I could only shoot him once. Gun safety was no. 1. Dad taught us how to shoot and only to shoot when you knew what you were shooting at; and that was deer!

As an adult, I moved back to Dalton. I lived upstairs in Grandpa and Uncle Raymond’s house. Uncle Raymond would hear me in the morning, bang on the stove pipe and ask, “Are you awake?” I would answer, “I am now!” In the 80’s, I took Uncle Raymond and Grandpa to the steam show in my old “68” Dodge Polara.

I quit high school to find work. I didn’t do very well in school, and had a hard time sitting still. So, Uncle Laverne asked if I would like to paint his 2 story house in Beaver Dam. I will still just 17 years old. I kept an eye on Mike too. He was my cousin, being Laverne’s son. Mike was 12 or so at the time. I made dinner, etc for us. He was a really great kid! I never forgot our time together and his friend Bobby. They were both really good kids and good friends to each other. The neighbor was Fritz, he would laugh at me doing crazy things. I would jump on the couch we had and do different poses in the air before landing on the couch. The neighbor kid would laugh so hard, he said it was better than going to the circus!

I did enjoy doing crazy stuff because I liked to make people laugh. One time, while I was living with Grandpa and Uncle Raymond in Dalton, I asked them if they wanted to hear a mad man. They didn’t know what I was talking about, but they soon found out! I hollered, “I’m mad, I’m mad, I’m a madman!” Uncle Raymond laughed so hard he could barely breathe. I asked Grandpa what he thought and he said I sounded like a madman. He was really smiling. 

At 18 years old I found a job at Ripon foods, thanks to Aunt Minnie. She worked there and helped me get the job. I was there for almost 17 years. After that I worked for 2 ½ years near Markesan for John Dzbinski installing garage doors with Dave Sutton. Then I worked at Gilman Trucking, now Madison Mack in Madison, WI. I worked as a sand blaster and in the shop for about a year. I did brake jobs on semi trailers and prepped tractor trailers for the paint booth. Toward the end, I would prepare the new trucks for sale by getting them cleaned up, etc. Then I went to Traex in Dane, WI and worked there for about 18 years assembling both napkin and straw dispensers. I really liked the job. I worked by myself, kept busy, and the shift just flew by. 

All the places I worked, I made a lot of friends. I still miss all the people, even after all the years away from them. My friends Mark and Cathy from Traex, I love you guys! I love my family and friends. I lived with Judy (Rahn) Dexter and her husband Don for a time. Don was quite funny too! We had lots of fun. I love all the children that Don and Judy had. 

While working at the cookie factory (Ripon Foods), I took a leave of absence and joined the Marine Corps. Since I couldn’t swim, I was a small arms specialist and trained in mortars. I, thankfully, never had to go to war. If I had, I would have been ported to the beach. I was stationed at Bremerton Nuclear Naval Base in Washington state as a guard. That was a job I enjoyed and took very seriously. 

I could go on and on, but don’t want to make you all wonder “when will this end”, so I’ll close now.

There’s not enough paper or ink to say it all.

I love Kayleen and Scott, my daughter and son-in-law, more than they will ever know.

To all my family and friends, who all know who you are.

I love you all.

Love, Rocky