Joseph Nicholas Weninger, 84, peacefully passed away at his residence on Monday, Dec.6, 2010.

Joseph was born in West Bend on Oct. 10, 1926, to Andrew and Mary "Mamie" (nee Schmidt) Weninger. He worked on the family farm in Nabob and graduated from West Bend High School in June 1944. Joe was proud to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Army during World War II. Shortly after his honorable discharge in 1946, Joe was introduced to the love of his life, Ethel Spaeth. They were united in marriage on July 24, 1948, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in West Bend and made their home in the town of Polk, where they raised their six sons and six daughters, whom he often referred to as his "angels."

Joe would frequently quip, "Life isn’t easy in southeastern Wisconsin," but he was a hard working man and lovingly supported his wife and family over the years by various means. Primarily, he was a self employed carpenter and was recognized for his high quality craftsmanship. In his free time, when he wasn’t simply gazing into the eyes of his beautiful bride, Joe enjoyed fishing, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, playing a good hand of cribbage, hitting baseballs for the boys when they were young and playing horseshoes. In his retirement years he enjoyed playing cards at the Senior Center and winning at Rummikub against his "Tweety." Joe was also a member of the West Bend Moose Lodge No. 1398. Most of all, Joe enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He looked forward to Saturday mornings when family and friends often stopped by for visits and good cheer.

Joe is survived by his wife, Ethel; children, Jerome (Betty) of St. Croix, VI, Joanne (Mike) Schmitz of Rolla, Mo., Donna (Mike) Patik of De Forest, Bruce (Carolyn) of Kewaskum, Ronald of Slinger, Nancy (Tom) O’Neal of La Crosse, Karen (Daniel) Vogt of Hartford, Lois Weninger (Larry Gundrum) of Slinger, Tom (Yvonne) of Jackson, Elizabeth (John) Maczuzak of Sheboygan, Brian of Jackson and "honorary son" Gwynn (Marilyn) Theusch of West Bend; grandchildren, Pamela (Kelvin) Dixon, Rebecca (Ted) Diez, Matthew, Jason, Jeremy, Joshua (Ireael), Nathanael (Younghee ) , Zachary and David (Krystal) Schmitz, Brenda Patik, Leah (Nathan) Miller and Andrew Patik, Christian, Justin (fiancée Sara Ramel) Weninger and Michelle (Mark) Uniewski, Allison (Kevin) Senninger, Jesse (Amy) Vogt, Megan (Juba) Borgohain, Kelly Vogt, Laura Polzin, Noele and Dani Vogt, Rachel, Holly, Eli, Jacob, Savannah and Angelina Maczuzak; great-grandchildren, Dante and Jewel Dixon, Alonnah and Alyssah Diez, Shekinah and Joseph Schmitz, Ethan and Hannah Schmitz, McKenzie Uniewski, Kyle and Ellie Senninger and Ari Borgohain. He is further survived by his sisters, Margaret (Franklin) Bales and Marian Vogt; brother, Andrew Weninger; his sisters-in-law, Rita Beder, Mildred Theisen, Irene (Fritz) Schellinger, Donna Spaeth; and brothers-in-law, Joseph (Betty) Spaeth, Charles (Barbara) Spaeth, Edward (Patty) Spaeth, Lawrence (Alice) Spaeth, Michael Spaeth and Daniel (Mary) Spaeth. He is further survived by many loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including his longtime friend and muskie fishing partner, James E. McGlenn.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Margaret Spaeth; son, Alan; granddaughter, Erin O'Neal; brothers-in-law, Denis Vogt, Oscar Beder, Louis Theisen and David Spaeth.
 
A Mass of Christian burial for Joseph will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 200 E. Washington St., Slinger with the Rev. Richard Stoffel presiding. Visitation will be at the church only on Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. Private interment will be at Old St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery.

The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family. www.phillipfuneralhome.com.

Joseph’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the following professionals for all their care and tender compassion during his recent hospitalization and hospice care: The wonderful nurses in the ICU and on the 3rd Floor at St. Joseph’s Hospital-West Bend, Dr. Cornelius, Dr. Machhi and his surgical team, Dr. Olafsson, Dr. Smale, Dr. Jurva, Dr. Herdrich, Fr. Richard Stoffel, and the nursing staff from Horizon Home Care and Hospice.