John Payton

Payton—John Payton, 82, on October 28, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wis. John was born on January 15, 1943, to Willis Payton and Helen Jackson Payton in Kansas City, Mo. He lived in Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, and the state of Washington while growing up, as a result of his father transferring positions with an oil company. He attended the University of Washington, majoring in history and graduating in 1965. Subsequently, he moved to Chicago, Ill., where he received a master of divinity degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School.

John remained in Chicago for 30 years, with the exception of two years in Urbana, Ill., where he obtained a master’s in social work. Later he received a doctorate in public health from the University of Illinois Chicago. John worked in public health in a variety of organizations, including the Red Cross, the American Hospital Association, Chicago public schools, and with a collaborative to promote children’s social and emotional learning. He also started a small massage practice.

In 1998, John met Roger Hansen. They quickly grew into a committed relationship, and in 1999, moved together to Evanston, Ill. John and Roger married under the care of Evanston Meeting in 2002, and legally married in Wisconsin in 2016. In 2005, they moved to Milwaukee. In 2023, John and Roger moved to Eastcastle Place retirement community.

John had been raised primarily as a Presbyterian but became an Episcopalian as an adult. Later, while on a search for a spiritual home, he became Quaker after meeting Roger, who had been a longtime Quaker. John became involved in the life and committee work of Milwaukee Meeting. He participated in several national Quaker groups, including Quaker Earthcare Witness, where he served as secretary, and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), where he served on the Nominating Committee. John helped to found the Milwaukee FCNL Advocacy Team.

John developed Parkinson’s disease in 2018. He continued his journey as a spiritual seeker and finder. In recent years, he began attending Episcopal services again as well as Quaker meeting. He found spiritual deepening in his practice of centering prayer. He saw a new opportunity as an advocate for peace and justice toward the end of his life by participating in a weekly rally across the street from Eastcastle, with his sign “Restore Our Constitution.” John was a continuous learner, attending classes for older adults at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

John was a devoted friend to many. He was described as a gentle person and a good listener. He enjoyed theatre, music, especially classical, travel, long walks, gardening, running, and even ran a marathon. He especially loved trains, and had a T-shirt saying “I’d rather be on a train.”

John was predeceased by his parents; and a brother, Steve Payton.

He is survived by his husband, Roger Hansen; a brother, Marc Payton (Darla); two sisters-in-law, Ellen Benes and Mary Ann Mathieu; and a cousin, Jane Jackson.