John Emmet Zodrow

John Emmet Otto Zodrow, age 12, of Green Lake, WI, was tragically taken too soon from his life filled with love, family, friends, and baseball; the result of a woman striking him with her car while he was riding his bike on the sidewalk to the library in Green Lake on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

Emmet was born on September 10, 2012 in Fond du Lac, WI, son of John and Angela (Grant) Zodrow. He attended school in Green Lake and also attended Odyssey Academy of Virtual Learning in Ripon.

Emmet was an incredible child, filled with love, kindness, gentleness, and a lust for life and learning. He had a rare ability to connect with people of all ages, often leaving a lasting impression after even the briefest interaction. To Emmet there were no strangers, just friends he had not yet met. Built of pure kindness, he could not grasp how people could be cruel.

Emmet was a favorite behind the counter at his family’s restaurant, Walk The Dog, easily discussing options with customers and charming them with his recommendations.

Fundraising came naturally to Emmet; he loved contributing to causes he cared about and had a gift for inviting others to care, too.

Emmet was very much his own person, unapologetically himself from day one. He would dye his hair any color - or all colors, pierced his ears early on, and relished any excuse to wear a suit and tie, happy even if everyone else was dressed more casually. He was eager to see new places and try new things, especially if he read about it in a book or saw it in a movie. He asked for ratatouille, not chicken soup, when he didn’t feel well. The fact that Hickory Honey Hams don’t exist was a disappointment, and the experiences of Turkish Delight and oysters were as well.

At just 12, Emmet had more interests and passions than many twice his age. Emmet loved to play, watch, and study baseball. When he decided on baseball as his sport, he consumed huge quantities of information on players past and present. He loved the Milwaukee Brewers and could identify any player just by their batting stance. (He could actually do that with most of MLB!) While he favored collecting memories of the games he attended, he also had fun collecting bobbleheads. He could cover any position but pitching was his favorite. He played for the Green Lake Anglers, Ripon Rec League, Ripon travel ball, and CBT in Little Chute. He was a proud member of First LEGO League team LEGO Multiverse, solving real-world problems with creativity and teamwork. He joined his dad for the AYA fishing tournament every year, applying all the tips he got from local fishing experts. He loved to paint and hide rocks in and around the Green Lake area and was as excited to find a treasure as he was to hide them to give others joy. He kept a collection of the rocks that held the most meaning to him, always able to tell you the story behind each one. He became an honorary Girl Scout, faithfully helping his sister Elliat sell cookies and attending the troop meetings mom and sister helped co-lead. He loved books and libraries and savored any chance to take part in a reading challenge.

Emmet loved music. He had recently begun playing the saxophone and took to it with ease. He had a naturally sweet voice and could often be caught singing along to whatever was playing. His music choice ran the gamut and he was fortunate to attend concerts by many of his favorites, from Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen to Gracie Abrams and his all-time favorite – Taylor Swift. He loved and knew them all, but Taylor Swift became the soundtrack of his life.

But more than anything, Emmet loved his family. Time spent with his parents and sister was his favorite thing in the world. Chess, cribbage, puzzles, or board games; movie nights or nights in the pool; walking the town with painted rocks or taking orders at lunch rush – it was all precious family time to him. His bond with Elliat was extraordinary—they were truly best friends, always supporting and celebrating one another. They valued spending time together in a way most siblings of their ages do not. He is featured prominently on her social media and if he wasn’t in front of the camera with her, he was often holding it for her. And she was his number one fan at every baseball game, even though she had no interest in the sport before he ever picked up a bat. They supported one another in everything they did and were an ever-present part of each other’s life.

Emmet’s love for life was truly felt by those who had the pleasure of knowing him. He cherished his time with others and even those he hadn’t known long felt that through his ability to connect with people. To know Emmet was to feel deeply seen, valued, and loved. He lived in the moment and made others want to do the same. He worked hard, gave his best, and always tried to do the right thing. He didn’t need a spotlight to shine, he simply was the light.

Emmet’s life, though far too short, was filled with wonder, joy, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, authenticity, and connection that will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Let Emmet be a reminder to us all to hold our loved ones a little closer, be more present, and live each day with the same pure, wholehearted love that Emmet shared so freely with the world around him.

Perhaps, after all, Emmet was simply too good to have to live amongst us.

Visitation for Emmet will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Ripon Community Church, 1 Westgate Dr., Ripon, WI 54971.

A memorial service for Emmet will be held at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Ripon Community Church in Ripon with Rev. Karen Gygax Rodriguez officiating.

In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Emmet’s big heart and his ability to reach others, memorials may be made out to “Emmet Is Love” and sent to the Green Lake Chamber Office, 550 Mill St., PO Box 337, Green Lake, WI 54941. All donations will be safely delivered directly to Emmet’s family.