John Erling Muschinske

John Erling Muschinske, age 93, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026.

He was born on June 6, 1932, to Erich Otto and Anna Ernestine Caroline (Bonke) Muschinske. He had five siblings all of whom preceded him in death: Philip (d. 1978), Erich (d. 1929), Celestine (d. 1969), Patricia (d. 1984), and Rosemary (d. 2026).

John served in the United States Army from August 1952 to June 1954. His military service allowed him to attend college, and he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1957.  He continued his education and earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1959. He spent his career in the early semiconductor industry and was awarded multiple patents.  He retired from Schlumberger in 1986.

He is survived by his son, Steven Muschinske and his wife, Janet, and their children, Sarah and John; his daughter, Karen Muschinske, and her sons, Jacob and Nolan; along with extended family and friends. John also helped raise his niece, Elisabeth (Lisa) Geier (d. 2014), and his nephew, Max Geier, after they lost their parent. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Muschinske.

John was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church – Missouri Synod, most recently at Prince of Peace in Fremont, CA.  He was a longtime member of the Model A Ford Club of America (MAFCA), active in the Santa Clara Valley A’s in San Jose from 1976 to 1988 and the GraNeva A’s in Grass Valley from 1988 to 2012. In the late 1970s, he restored two Model A Fords—a 1930 coupe with rumble seat and a 1931 slant windshield sedan. In 1986, the family traveled in the sedan to Lake Geneva, WI for the MAFCA national meet. He enjoyed the outdoors and played golf once or twice a week into his 80s.

He will be remembered most for his faith, love of family and the example he set for the generations who follow.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.