Jean Sebastian Noth

Jean Sebastien Noth, a Milwaukee resident since 1959 known for his art exhibits until age 41 and later for his work helping local schools and childcare centers, passed away January 22, 2026, at age 86. He long lived with our sister, Malou. He had been transferred to hospice care after surgery and died surrounded by family, receiving final blessings from a Catholic priest. Jean was actually a Holocaust survivor, born Jewish in Aix en Provence in France on May 17, 1939, and briefly interned at Camp des Milles as an infant with his mother, Elena Fels, and older brother Pierre, now both deceased, when Germany took over France. His late aunt Lucia and her first husband were also in Nazi concentration camps. In 1941, with his parents, grandmother Bessie and brother Pierre, they fled to the US after an arduous journey to Portugal, first living in New York City, then Oklahoma before Milwaukee. His mother, Elena Fels Noth (later a full professor of music), had converted to Catholicism. After attending Layton School of Art and graduating from UWM, Jean had exhibitions of his drawings and paintings until he stopped painting in 1979 to be a devoted caretaker to our mother on Wyoming Place, until she passed away in 1987. Since then he lived with our sister and was active until days before his death, a familiar figure in the neighborhood helping with chores and walking the family dog. He has a large group of nephews and nieces, from his late brother Pierre and his surviving brother, Dominique Paul Noth. As children they recall Jean’s room filled with classic comic books and Disney memorabilia, detailed in a memorial tribute from his nephew Paul on his popular Substack (paulnoth.substack.com). He is directly survived by our sister, Malou, with numerous nephews and nieces. He was an active presence in the Milwaukee community before his illness and death, helping his sister much as he had done for our mother. Friends and family will gather to remember him with collections of his paintings and photos, along with conversation and food on Feb. 20, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Northshore Funeral Home, 3610 N. Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, Wisconsin 53211, also https://www.northshorefuneral.com/. This is an opening invitation to attend and remember. The family recommends donations to a community service group of your choosing, since Jean was always happy in spirit and devoted to good deeds.

Jean Sebastian Noth

May 17, 1939 - January 22, 2026