Surnames: Schlegel, Babisch, Greger, Netzer, Hoffman, Pitcel

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.)

KENNETH E SCHLEGEL

Kenneth Earl Schlegel, age 75, of Sheboygan, died Sun. afternoon, Aug. 15, 2004 at Meadow View Manor where he had resided for the last month. Ken was born in Sheboygan on Apr. 30, 1929, a son of the late Louis and Ann (Babisch) Schlegel. He attended St. Peter Claver School and was a 1947 graduate of Sheboygan Central High School. With several of his friends, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country for four years, working in weather forecasting in TX; Norfolk, VA; the Mediterranean and Greenland. In 1956, he graduated from UW-Madison with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Following graduation, for 10 years, Ken traveled the state as a bank examiner for the State of Wisconsin. On Sept. 25, 1966, he married the former Patricia Greger.

From 1966 until 1972, he was president and majority stockholder of the State Bank of Francis Creek. From 1972 to 1983, he was vice president and bank manager of the Francis Creek office of the First National Bank in Manitowoc. While in the Francis Creek area, he served as president of the Francis Creek Lion's Club, St. Anne's Church Council and the Manitowoc Kennel Club. In 1983, he joined with Neillsville Bank as CEO and executive vice president. He served as president of the Neillsville Kiwanis Club, the committee to expand the Neillsville Hospital, the Neillsville Chamber of Commerce and was very active in St Mary's Catholic Church and joyfully acted as town Santa Claus for a couple years. After retiring in 1991, Ken moved to Sheboygan in 1996 and became a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ on Dec. 1, 2002. He was a member of St. Paul's Saints Dartball Team.

Ken was always a gentleman and a loyal friend. He had a winning smile, beautiful blue eyes and a sunny disposition that won him many friends. He was loved for his compassion, generosity, honesty, grace and courtesy to others. He loved dogs and for a number of years, in the Manitowoc area, owned a small kennel and showed and bred West Highland White Terriers. He was a Packer fan who enjoyed nature, Door County, bird watching, flowers, growing roses and having coffee with "the boys". He appreciated many different types of music from classical to country. While in high school, he played trumpet and tuba in Central High Band and orchestra, and as a university student, he played in the Wuerls Band. He also played guitar and sang in a Country Western Band with Kilian and John Molitor.

Ken is survived and will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Patricia; his niece, Patrice (Clifford) Netzer; his nephew, Robert (Catherine) Hoffman; a grand-niece, Melissa Netzer; grand-nephews Christopher Netzer, Daniel Hoffman, and Kevin Pitcel; sister-in-law, Judith Greger; cousins, other relatives and many dear friends; Tim Prahl, a special friend and unbelievably helpful neighbor; and Penny, the last of his beloved West Highland White Terriers.

Preceding Ken in death are his grandparents, parents, a sister Ann Hoffman and a nephew Ronald Pitcel.

A Funeral Service will be held for Ken on Wed. Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. at St. Paul's United Church of Christ with the Rev. David Taylor officiating. Burial will take place in Greendale Cemetery. Friends May call at the church, 2114 Wedemeyer, on Wed. from 4 p.m. until the time of the service at 6 p.m. A Memorial Fund has been established in Ken's name.

The family wishes to express thanks to the Rev. David Taylor, to Ken's caregivers, Debie Stache and Joyce Pryor, Dr. Michael Brooks and his nurse Mary, Dr. Santhosh Kumar and the staff of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center and the staff of Meadow View Manor for their tender loving care and support and the Visiting Nurse Association. The staff of the Novak-Ramm-Ziegler Funeral Home is serving the family.