Walter E. Zemke, age 99, Oshkosh, passed away on October 4, 2016 in Milwaukee where he had been residing for the past several years with family. He was born in Oshkosh on January 24, 1917, son of Walter A. and Elsa Knaak Zemke and elder brother of Harry W. Zemke. He was also the special nephew of Anna M. Knaak.
He was a graduate of Oshkosh High School, and veteran of World War II serving as a Technician IV in the Army Military Police in North Africa and in a POW camp in Mexija Texas.
On June 16, 1945 he married Jane Arlene Steinert, daughter of William and Alice Schlagenhauf Steinert who had grown up a block away from him. They met while singing in the choir at Peace Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2010.
He worked for General Beverage (formerly T& S Tobacco Company) for 40 years, initially as a driver, salesman, and purchasing agent; retiring as warehouse manager in 1982. He enjoyed league bowling, vegetable gardening, reading, the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers. He was most proud of his family.
He will be missed by sons, Paul (Mary) Zemke and Mark (Sandra) Zemke , Milwaukee, Dr. Kurt Zemke DDS, Berlin, WI and daughter Judith Zemke, Milwaukee; grandchildren Sarah (Kevin) Dirst and Dr. Alex (Dr. Kendal) Zemke, both of Denver, CO., Eric Zemke, Menasha; Evan Zemke, Butte des Morts, and Lauren Zemke, Milwaukee, and two great grandchildren, Molly and Brayden Dirst, Denver. He is further survived by sisters-in-law Mavis Bowman and Marilyn Swensen, San Diego, and Carol Palecek, Greendale, WI as well as nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at noon on October 8, 2016 at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home (402 Waugoo Ave). Visitation will be held from 11AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Oshkosh Public Library would be appreciated.
NOSTROVIA DAD!
(Oshkosh Northwestern obituary)
______
Dad often told the story of the time he was working gate guard duty and directing attendees for a meeting which WW II generals were attending. He said that General Patton had already arrived in his big Packard automobile. As another large car stopped at the gate, the back window rolled down and the occupant asked him where they could park. As Dad told us: "And I told General Eishenhower exactly where he could go!" The story never failed to get a laugh.
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Another fond memory is when Dad who was in his late 70's was telling his grandson that he had learned judo while in the military police. His grandson challenged him and within a few seconds, Dad had a very surprised grandson looking up at him from the ground.
_______________________
As we children were growing up, we lived in a home with a very large back yard, my parents had the house built and Dad spent many months leveling off the unfinished yard. He delighted his s two middle children ages 3 and 4 with wheelbarrow rides around the yard while he worked. He flooded the back yard several winters in a row to provide us with a skating rink and oneyear built a snow toboggan for us to slide our sleds down. He set up bases for baseball games and archery targets for us to use.
______________
Dad always wanted the best for his children and gave much valued and appreciated advise to them throughout his life.
He was a graduate of Oshkosh High School, and veteran of World War II serving as a Technician IV in the Army Military Police in North Africa and in a POW camp in Mexija Texas.
On June 16, 1945 he married Jane Arlene Steinert, daughter of William and Alice Schlagenhauf Steinert who had grown up a block away from him. They met while singing in the choir at Peace Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2010.
He worked for General Beverage (formerly T& S Tobacco Company) for 40 years, initially as a driver, salesman, and purchasing agent; retiring as warehouse manager in 1982. He enjoyed league bowling, vegetable gardening, reading, the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers. He was most proud of his family.
He will be missed by sons, Paul (Mary) Zemke and Mark (Sandra) Zemke , Milwaukee, Dr. Kurt Zemke DDS, Berlin, WI and daughter Judith Zemke, Milwaukee; grandchildren Sarah (Kevin) Dirst and Dr. Alex (Dr. Kendal) Zemke, both of Denver, CO., Eric Zemke, Menasha; Evan Zemke, Butte des Morts, and Lauren Zemke, Milwaukee, and two great grandchildren, Molly and Brayden Dirst, Denver. He is further survived by sisters-in-law Mavis Bowman and Marilyn Swensen, San Diego, and Carol Palecek, Greendale, WI as well as nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at noon on October 8, 2016 at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home (402 Waugoo Ave). Visitation will be held from 11AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Oshkosh Public Library would be appreciated.
NOSTROVIA DAD!
(Oshkosh Northwestern obituary)
______
Dad often told the story of the time he was working gate guard duty and directing attendees for a meeting which WW II generals were attending. He said that General Patton had already arrived in his big Packard automobile. As another large car stopped at the gate, the back window rolled down and the occupant asked him where they could park. As Dad told us: "And I told General Eishenhower exactly where he could go!" The story never failed to get a laugh.
_____________________
Another fond memory is when Dad who was in his late 70's was telling his grandson that he had learned judo while in the military police. His grandson challenged him and within a few seconds, Dad had a very surprised grandson looking up at him from the ground.
_______________________
As we children were growing up, we lived in a home with a very large back yard, my parents had the house built and Dad spent many months leveling off the unfinished yard. He delighted his s two middle children ages 3 and 4 with wheelbarrow rides around the yard while he worked. He flooded the back yard several winters in a row to provide us with a skating rink and oneyear built a snow toboggan for us to slide our sleds down. He set up bases for baseball games and archery targets for us to use.
______________
Dad always wanted the best for his children and gave much valued and appreciated advise to them throughout his life.
Walter E. Zemke, age 99, Oshkosh, passed away on October 4, 2016 in Milwaukee where he had been residing for the past several years with family. He was born in Oshkosh on January 24, 1917, son of Walter A. and Elsa Knaak Zemke and elder brother of Harry W. Zemke. He was also the special nephew of Anna M. Knaak.
He was a graduate of Oshkosh High School, and veteran of World War II serving as a Technician IV in the Army Military Police in North Africa and in a POW camp in Mexija Texas.
On June 16, 1945 he married Jane Arlene Steinert, daughter of William and Alice Schlagenhauf Steinert who had grown up a block away from him. They met while singing in the choir at Peace Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2010.
He worked for General Beverage (formerly T& S Tobacco Company) for 40 years, initially as a driver, salesman, and purchasing agent; retiring as warehouse manager in 1982. He enjoyed league bowling, vegetable gardening, reading, the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers. He was most proud of his family.
He will be missed by sons, Paul (Mary) Zemke and Mark (Sandra) Zemke , Milwaukee, Dr. Kurt Zemke DDS, Berlin, WI and daughter Judith Zemke, Milwaukee; grandchildren Sarah (Kevin) Dirst and Dr. Alex (Dr. Kendal) Zemke, both of Denver, CO., Eric Zemke, Menasha; Evan Zemke, Butte des Morts, and Lauren Zemke, Milwaukee, and two great grandchildren, Molly and Brayden Dirst, Denver. He is further survived by sisters-in-law Mavis Bowman and Marilyn Swensen, San Diego, and Carol Palecek, Greendale, WI as well as nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at noon on October 8, 2016 at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home (402 Waugoo Ave). Visitation will be held from 11AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Oshkosh Public Library would be appreciated.
NOSTROVIA DAD!
(Oshkosh Northwestern obituary)
______
Dad often told the story of the time he was working gate guard duty and directing attendees for a meeting which WW II generals were attending. He said that General Patton had already arrived in his big Packard automobile. As another large car stopped at the gate, the back window rolled down and the occupant asked him where they could park. As Dad told us: "And I told General Eishenhower exactly where he could go!" The story never failed to get a laugh.
_____________________
Another fond memory is when Dad who was in his late 70's was telling his grandson that he had learned judo while in the military police. His grandson challenged him and within a few seconds, Dad had a very surprised grandson looking up at him from the ground.
_______________________
As we children were growing up, we lived in a home with a very large back yard, my parents had the house built and Dad spent many months leveling off the unfinished yard. He delighted his s two middle children ages 3 and 4 with wheelbarrow rides around the yard while he worked. He flooded the back yard several winters in a row to provide us with a skating rink and oneyear built a snow toboggan for us to slide our sleds down. He set up bases for baseball games and archery targets for us to use.
______________
Dad always wanted the best for his children and gave much valued and appreciated advise to them throughout his life.
He was a graduate of Oshkosh High School, and veteran of World War II serving as a Technician IV in the Army Military Police in North Africa and in a POW camp in Mexija Texas.
On June 16, 1945 he married Jane Arlene Steinert, daughter of William and Alice Schlagenhauf Steinert who had grown up a block away from him. They met while singing in the choir at Peace Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2010.
He worked for General Beverage (formerly T& S Tobacco Company) for 40 years, initially as a driver, salesman, and purchasing agent; retiring as warehouse manager in 1982. He enjoyed league bowling, vegetable gardening, reading, the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers. He was most proud of his family.
He will be missed by sons, Paul (Mary) Zemke and Mark (Sandra) Zemke , Milwaukee, Dr. Kurt Zemke DDS, Berlin, WI and daughter Judith Zemke, Milwaukee; grandchildren Sarah (Kevin) Dirst and Dr. Alex (Dr. Kendal) Zemke, both of Denver, CO., Eric Zemke, Menasha; Evan Zemke, Butte des Morts, and Lauren Zemke, Milwaukee, and two great grandchildren, Molly and Brayden Dirst, Denver. He is further survived by sisters-in-law Mavis Bowman and Marilyn Swensen, San Diego, and Carol Palecek, Greendale, WI as well as nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at noon on October 8, 2016 at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home (402 Waugoo Ave). Visitation will be held from 11AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Park, Oshkosh, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Oshkosh Public Library would be appreciated.
NOSTROVIA DAD!
(Oshkosh Northwestern obituary)
______
Dad often told the story of the time he was working gate guard duty and directing attendees for a meeting which WW II generals were attending. He said that General Patton had already arrived in his big Packard automobile. As another large car stopped at the gate, the back window rolled down and the occupant asked him where they could park. As Dad told us: "And I told General Eishenhower exactly where he could go!" The story never failed to get a laugh.
_____________________
Another fond memory is when Dad who was in his late 70's was telling his grandson that he had learned judo while in the military police. His grandson challenged him and within a few seconds, Dad had a very surprised grandson looking up at him from the ground.
_______________________
As we children were growing up, we lived in a home with a very large back yard, my parents had the house built and Dad spent many months leveling off the unfinished yard. He delighted his s two middle children ages 3 and 4 with wheelbarrow rides around the yard while he worked. He flooded the back yard several winters in a row to provide us with a skating rink and oneyear built a snow toboggan for us to slide our sleds down. He set up bases for baseball games and archery targets for us to use.
______________
Dad always wanted the best for his children and gave much valued and appreciated advise to them throughout his life.
