Obituaries

Madison - On Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 3:00 PM, John Michael Summers slipped his earthly bonds and journeyed home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. John, 67, was born in Madison, Wisconsin on April 12, 1956 to Eugene and Irene (Gaetzke) Summers. John is survived by his sister Sandra (Radl) Manke of Lodi, Wisconsin and his brother, Daniel James Summers of Houston, Texas. He is also the proud uncle to his nieces Amy (Ben) Mikla and Leah (Kevin) Carini and nephew Jason (Kyra) Manke along with being a grand-uncle to their 9 children.

Because of his father’s career in the military, John was raised a ‘military-brat’ which instilled in him a wanderlust for travel that remained with him his entire life. John’s formative years were growing up in Itazuke, Japan, where his brother Daniel was born and in Aviano, Italy where he developed his love of alpine skiing, hiking and experiencing the local cultures and customs during his travels throughout Europe.

Returning to the U.S. for High School, John attended Sun Prairie Senior High in Wisconsin graduating in 1974. While attending college the following year, John was offered a position with the City of Sun Prairie Police Department. John remained there from 1975 until 1995, and was promoted rapidly through the ranks from Dispatcher to Police Officer and ultimately Police Detective. John received numerous commendations for his service to the community and the department during that 20 year period.

During his final seven years with the Sun Prairie Police Department, John co-authored a Federal grant that resulted in the formation of the Dane County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Unit. John held the position of Detective Supervisor for that unit for several years until it merged with the Madison Police Department narcotics group in 1990. John remained a narcotics detective until leaving that unit in 1993 and joining the City of Madison Police Department in 1994.

John again moved through the ranks in MPD from the Patrol Bureau into the Criminal Intelligence Section and back into the Detective Bureau. Although scheduled to return to the narcotics unit once again, with the advent of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, John was voluntarily detailed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in November of that year.

John served his country proudly from 2001 until 2005 in the capacity of a Deputy United States Marshal assigned to investigating terrorism organizations, predominantly Al-Qaeda, both domestically and internationally. While a part of that effort, John formed a life-long friendship and bond with his FBI partner and mentor, FBI Special Agent Joshua Ben Mayers.

His father Eugene took ill from cancer in May 2005 and John left the FBI, taking a leave of absence from work. Along with his brother Daniel, they cared for their father until his passing in September 2005.

In November 2005 John returned to his duties as a Police Detective with the City of Madison Police Department until his retirement in July 2010. He received many commendations during his 15 year tenure there, but none of those transitory achievements held true meaning or touched John’s heart the way that the crime victims of his cases and their families did.

The last five years of John’s career at MPD were dedicated to solving some of the most difficult cases he had encountered, all involving the unexplained death or murder of young persons. Sharing with John, perhaps the most difficult case of his career, the murder of Kelly Kay Nolan in June 2007, was his close friend and partner, MPD Detective Sid Woods who retired just one month before John. John continued working on Kelly’s case on his own time and being an advocate for the Nolan family until his passing.

John had just begun to enjoy his well deserved retirement after 35 years of public service when he was recruited by the State of Wisconsin / Department of Justice / Division of Criminal Investigation to work as a Special Agent in their newly formed Madison office Cold-Case Unit. There, he joined with his long-time work associate, mentor and good friend, retired MPD Detective Allan Rickey to re-open and investigate unsolved homicides throughout the State of Wisconsin, some dating back 40 years.

John was a life-long learner and voracious reader, quietly earning two college degrees over the years while working and continuing his fascination with world religions, politics and cultures.

He was dedicated to rescuing abused animals and had a particular love for Siberian Huskies. Over a period of more than 25 years, his beloved Huskies included Killian, Pasha, Kaya and Sierra.

John’s love of the outdoors and travel continued to the day that he left us. He remained an avid alpine skier, backpacker, bicyclist and motorcyclist. His love of the world created by it’s Maker, led him to hobbies, dogs, love of his family, the Nolan and Ryan families. Allen Rickey, Kathy and Charlie Mattison and Sid Woods.

He lived his life serving others. Aways the first to lend a hand and offer assistance to someone in need. His kindness, generosity and giving spirit was an inspiration to all who knew him. For ten years during his retirement he lovingly cared for his aging mother Irene.

John was preceded in death by his mother and father Eugene and Irene Summers and brother-in-law Dave Manke.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept 26th, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Ryan Funeral Home at 2418 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704. 608-249-8257

Interment will be held the following day, Wednesday, Sept. 27th, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Saint Paul Catholic Church Cemetery, 437 Main Street, Wrightstown, WI 54180

In lieu of flowers, John respectfully asked that you choose one of the following charities if you are able and to make it your own: Feed the Poor, Columban Fathers, Adopt-A-Husky, Dane Co. Humane Society, LIFE 102.5, Wounded Warrior Project.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N Sherman Ave

608-249-8257