Waldo H. (“Pete”) Ohnesorge

POYNETTE --  Waldo H. (“Pete”) Ohnesorge passed away on March 14, 2016, at University of Wisconsin Hospital. Pete was born on March 15, 1926, in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. He was the son of Herman and Magdalene (“Maude”) Ohnesorge. He graduated from Poynette High School in 1944. He then entered the U.S. Navy in 1944 where he served for two years in the Pacific. After barbering for three years in Portage, Pete began barbering in Poynette. He remained for 66 years on Main Street, Poynette, in the blue and white shop known as Pete’s Barber Shop.

He was a longtime member of the Poynette Chamber of Commerce, the Poynette Historical Society, and the Poynette Curling Club where he curled for many years. He was on the church board at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and belonged to the Poynette Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Poynette American Legion. In his earlier years, he served in the color guard.

Pete’s favorite place in the world to be was in Door County, Wisconsin. He always remembered his younger years picking cherries in his parents’ orchard. Then, after picking, he and his brothers and sisters would walk down County Road F to Fish Creek to go swimming.

Pete loved being at his small cabin just outside of Fish Creek on County Road A. He loved to go boating, fishing, riding the 40 acres in his golf cart, and just sitting in his wooden rocker on the glass porch watching the day go by. He was a long-time Green Bay Packer fan.

Pete is survived by the love of his life, Leone M. (Hutler) Ohnesorge, his wife of 68 years, his pride and joy, his daughter Jane E. (Ohnesorge) Jay; and his wonderful grandson, John W. Jay. He is also survived by his brothers Armin Ohnesorge, Pardeeville; Ronald (Joyce) Ohnesorge, Marshfield; Merle Ohnesorge, Poynette; and his sisters Emeline (“Emmy”) Thompson, Sun Prairie; Marian Tarrant, Kailua,  Hawaii, Laurel Jean Burkett, Morrison, Colorado; brothers-in-law Charles (Ann) Hutler, Benson, Arizona; and Kenneth (Sandra) Hutler, Portage; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Walter and Lona Hutler, a brother Wilfred "Billy" Ohnesorge; sister, Dorothy Ottman; brothers-in-law Ronald Hutler, Dale Tarrant, David Thompson, Herbert Ottman, Lester Burkett, and Vincent Curtis; sisters-in-law, Natalie Curtis, Delores Ohnesorge, Arlene Hutler, Bernice Ohnesorge, Dawn Ohnesorge and his former son-in-law John Jay.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Leeds, Wisconsin, with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 with Pastor Scott Schwertfeger officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church. Burial will follow the luncheon and service at Hillside Cemetery in Poynette with Poynette Area Veterans conducting military honors.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home of Poynette is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Columbia County Health Care Center for their compassionate care.