Obituary: Kenneth G. Nachreiner - Class of 1944

MONONA - Kenneth G. Nachreiner, age 83, died on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, after a brief illness. He was born on Sept. 24, 1926, in Bear Valley, the tenth and youngest child of Herbert and Veronica (Volk) Nachreiner. The family moved to Madison in 1927, where Ken attended Holy Redeemer grade school and Central High School, graduating in June 1944. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in December 1944, and served 13 months in Manila, Philippines. On his separation from the armed forces in November 1946, Ken attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in June 1950. He married Elaine Pschorr on May 30, 1951, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Madison. Together they raised five children. Ken began a career in Wisconsin state service in February 1951, and served 37 years, retiring from the Department of Health and Social Services. He was an avid reader and history buff, especially American history. Ken was most interested in the Civil War and World War II. He loved cars, enjoyed the happy times spent camping with family, and traveling throughout the United States. Ken is survived by his wife, Elaine; five children, Mark (Judy) of Madison, Paul (Deb), James "Butch" (Sally Jones) and Susan (John) Veserat, all of Monona, and Amy (Trace) Stovall of Colquitt, Ga.; grandchildren, Katie and Kyle Nachreiner, and Emily, Kelsey and Andrew Veserat; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Leonard, Walter, Louie, "Tom," Harold and Ralph; and three sisters, Irene, Frieda Dahlk and Marie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, with Father John Meinholz presiding. Entombment will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, with a Scripture service at 3 p.m., and at the church from 10 a.m., until the time of the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, Wis., 53711 or Immaculate Heart of Mary Endowment Fund. Special thanks to Angie and her team at HospiceCare. "Dear husband, dad, grandpa, we will see you 'east of the sun and west of the moon.'" Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 17, 2010