John Harrison Ainslie

John H Ainslie passed away at his home following a brief battle with cancer on April 4, 2021. He was 73. John was born on October 16, 1947 in Ipin China, the son of his medical missionary parents Dr. Robert B. and Margaret Fay Ainslie. After fleeing the communist takeover in 1949, the family lived in the Philippines for three years. Eventually moving back to the states, they finally settled in Madison where John graduated from LaFollette High School in 1966. He went on to graduate from Ripon College in 1970 where he met and then married Chris, his wife and loving partner of nearly 50 years. Following a stint in army, John worked in the insurance industry for both American Family Insurance and for the State of Wisconsin, a career he found both fulfilling and engaging. After retiring in 2013, John was able to pursue his many and varied interests. When he wasn’t working in the garden, John enjoyed fly fishing, woodworking, singing with various community choirs, practicing tai chi, traveling with his wife, and learning about the geology of our beautiful country. He volunteered for the Sun Prairie Food Pantry and delivered meals for The Colonial Club. With a great love of learning, John enjoyed listening to lectures and taking classes his entire life, earning two master degrees along the way. John was preceded in death by his parents Bob and Margaret Ainslie and his brother Tom. John is survived by his wife Chris, his two sons David (Triumph) and Ben (Stephanie Porter), his sister and two brothers Sue (Roy Sellars), Fred (Chris) and Bill (Vicki), his sister-in-law Terry, and his two delightful grandchildren Paris and Henry. John will be laid to rest in the columbarium at Holy Wisdom Monastery, the place of worship where he felt a deeply spiritual connection. His family will celebrate his life at gatherings later in the year. They wish to thank all the staff at SSM Health and SSM Health Hospice for their compassionate care over the last few months.