John Huggett

John Huggett

April 05, 1964 - October 03, 2025

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Obituary

John Huggett, 61, peacefully passed away on October 3, 2025. He was born on April 5, 1964, in Madison, WI, where he spent much of his life surrounded by family, friends, and the community he loved.

John is survived by the love of his life, his wife Nancy Huggett; his two stepchildren, whom he cherished as his own, Tara (Wes) Nonn and Mick (Paige Nelson) Karls; and his three grandchildren who brought him endless joy, Kypton, Beau, and Haisley Nonn. He is also survived by his mother, Ann Huggett; four brothers, Jeff (Diane), Mark (Sondra), Brad, and Mike (Laura); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Huggett.

A proud graduate of West High School, John went on to earn his MBA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His career and adventures took him from Boston to San Diego before he returned home to Wisconsin, working at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

John was a driving force in the Ultimate Frisbee community, leaving a lasting legacy in Madison and beyond. He competed at the highest level, going to Nationals many years with ‘Earth Atomizer’ in Boston. After returning to Madison, he picked back up as a player and coach for the club team. In 1993, he and a few close friends were instrumental in bringing the World Flying Disc Federation World Ultimate Championships to Madison and placed within the top 20 teams in the world. The event drew more than 80 teams from 17 countries and firmly established Madison as a hub for the sport. The following year the Madison Ultimate Frisbee Association (MUFA) was formed due to his efforts. In 1999, John started to coach the Madison West High School Ultimate Frisbee team, which has since become a perennial contender at both state and national levels. His dedication and vision helped shape the growth of Ultimate in Wisconsin and inspired countless players.

John lived life to the fullest with curiosity, joy, and a sense of adventure. He was an avid reader and a world traveler who loved exploring new places and cultures. A devoted dog lover whose golden retrievers were his constant and faithful companions. He had a lifelong goal of earning a coveted golden bracelet in the World Series of Poker, representing the dedication and skill for an event he looked forward to competing in every year in Las Vegas. He was especially proud of placing 29th out of more than 4,000 participants in 2022. Above all else, John treasured time with his family and friends, which brought him his greatest joy and fulfilled his constant goal of happiness.

Those who knew John will remember his contagious smile, his booming laugh that could be heard across any room, and the warmth, kindness, loyalty and humor he shared so freely with others.

To honor John’s memory, his family invites friends and loved ones to a celebration of his life on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 11:00am to 2:00pm at Vintage Brewing Company, 600 Water Street, Sauk City, WI.

To view his obituary or leave a memory, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N. Sherman Avenue

608-249-8257

Events

19
Celebration of Life
Sun Oct 19, 2025 @ 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM CDT
Vintage Brewing Company • 600 Water St, Sauk City, WI 53583
Get Directions

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AP
Aaron Patterson
Friend •
I met Huggy in 2003 in fall league. He showed up to the first game in a polo shirt and khakis, introduced himself to the team and then said he was leaving to go play poker. I and the rest of the team put forth a valiant effort, but we were outmatched and lost the game by quite a few points, probably 13-8 or thereabouts. So, I didn't have a great first impression of Huggy. After that I think he did show and play in almost every game, twice a week for the remaining 8 weeks and we were a much more competitive team with him there and he pushed us to work together and be better players. He was sometimes a little too forthright with his criticisms, ruffling some feathers but we started winning more games. That was a competitive year for fall league. It was still rather small, and all the good teams had at least one outstanding player with solid name recognition. I remember getting tasked to play defense on Nigel a couple games and he still made some great plays, but I frustrated him enough that he didn’t get as many touches as he would have liked. In games like that Huggy would often look at me on the line, when we needed a score, and say “Go Deep”. I’ve never been the fastest player or the best deep cutter, but I would do my best and managed to haul in a few of his hucks for a score. One game we were low on players and trying to conserve energy and make our opponents fight the wind so we setup a zone defense with me as the middle and Huggy deep. The other team was working it towards midfield and put up a high floaty throw to the left side. I saw the girl defending was not going to be able to make a play on it so I bid on it running as fast as I could and skying for the disk, just as I was about to grab the disk Huggy collided with me from backside. It was a train wreck. I don’t know if either one of us caught the disk but we were both flattened and sent sprawling. Then we both wanted an injury sub but out team only had one sub that game so we had to roshambo to see who got to leave the field for the rest of the point. I won the roshambo and got to rest for a bit but returned to play the rest of the game. I didn’t tell my fiancé about our collision but luckily, I didn’t suffer enough facial bruising for it to be apparent when we got married 2 days later. Our team ended up really gelling towards the end of the season, with hardnose solid defense and quick smoothly operating offense always looking to make big throws to the endzone. After some hard fought chilly games, we won the fall league playoff championship. Over the last 20 years, I’ve often run into Huggy at various MUFA fields, usually coaching some team of young athletic players. Occasionally he would put his cleats on and send ‘em deep. He was always happy to see me.
DA
Dan Ackerstein
Friend •
I coached the Madison West HS ultimate frisbee team with John for 2 years in the mid-00's. Huggy was incredible - boundless energy, infectious enthusiasm, hilarious swagger and the deepest well of generosity and caring that one can imagine. He loved frisbee, but more so he loved the bonds and experiences that frisbee allowed him to share with his people - especially those HS kids in whom he saw so much of himself. Coaching made him so happy, and his happiness flowed out to everyone within reach. I am lucky to have known him.
LS
laura stearns
Friend •
John was a friend of my older brother, Jim and then later in my 20's a friend of mine... we would go get Mexican food for lunch on Monroe street. Always made the workdays better to have a lunch plan with him. He had the greatest little smiley , smirky laugh, totally unique to him and just special. I know he will really be missed by so many, and I am one of them.
SL
Sand Sobek Leslie
Friend •
Yahke Was A Heck Of A Break The Ice Game Player! I M Pretty Sure He Never Lost! Love Ya Buddy ~ God Speed!
TK
Tom Keepers
Friend •
I've known John since first grade. John always had a knowing smile on this face, like he knew something -- perhaps funny -- that you didn't know. He became the "candy man" for a time, literally. He would get candy from Werts(?) Drug Store on Monroe St, often times arriving at school with a mouthful of Rainblow gum. He could barely talk his mouth was so full. Then he'd start laughing. I don't know how the teachers felt about it. < smile >. He also had some good LPs. I heard George Carlin for the first time at the family house by Vilas Park. We could not stop laughing, in part I'm sure because of the swearing and we were pretty young. Always a positive dude. So sorry to hear he has left us. All the best to the Huggett clan.
MM
Matt McCord
Friend •
John and I met playing Ultimate at UW Madison, he always had a different way of doing things that ruffled the feathers of the team. He was always trying to make the team better in his eyes and I will always respect that from him.

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