Obit: Kronberger, Wayne William (1931 - 2009) 
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Kronberger, Benedict, Burr, Friedemann, Tresemer, Boon, Corcoran, Jarver, Prior, Pabich, Lavey, Bjerke, Bertz  
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 23, 2009 
 

Kronberger, Wayne William (13 April 1931 - 18 December 2009) 
 

Wayne W. Kronberger, 78, of Neillsville, died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville. 
 

Wayne William Kronberger was born April 13, 1931, in the Town of York, Clark County, the son of Leo and Lulu (Benedict) Kronberger.  He graduated from Loyal High School in 1949.  He began working at C. E. Seif’s & Sons in Neillsville in 1950 as a mechanic.   Wayne was united in marriage Aug. 12, 1953, to Ruth Burr at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville.  While working at Seif’s, he also worked part-time at Fel-Gross Chevrolet doing body repair work.  He worked at Seif’s until 1984 and then opened Wayne’s Agri-Fix in downtown Neillsville, which he operated until 1992. 
 

He was a member of the Neillsville Jaycees, a founding member of the Neillsville Men’s Club, a member of the Neillsville Lions and Rotary clubs and also a member of the Trailblazers Snowmobile Club.  He proudly served on the Neillsville Fire Department from 1954 to 1978, achieving the rank of assistant fire chief and also serving as the maintenance officer working on the fire trucks.  Wayne was a deputy sheriff serving under former sheriff David Bertz.  He also worked as a reserve officer for the Clark County Sheriff’s Department from 1979 to 1991.  Prior to that, he worked with Clark County’s Civil Defense in the early 1970s. Wayne built the blacksmith display at the Tuft’s Museum and also served on the Tufts’ Museum Board of Directors. 
 

In Wayne’s younger days, he enjoyed riding his vintage 165 cc Harley motorcycle.  He enjoyed deer hunting and ice fishing.  Wayne enjoyed antiquing and going to garage sales, where he discovered many treasures.  He also spent many hours tinkering in his workshop and loved telling stories.  Wayne was also very musical, as he taught himself to play guitar, which he enjoyed playing along with the banjo and Omni chord throughout his life. 
 

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; six children, Mark (Jenny) Kronberger of Neillsville, Diane (Richard) Friedemann of Stratford, Craig (Diane) Kronberger, David "Cleaver" (Gayle) Kronberger, Lori (Tim) Tresemer all of Neillsville; and Keith (Donna) Kronberger of Marshfield; 10 grandchildren, Angela Kronberger, Dori Friedemann, Jamie Lynn Kronberger, Ryan Kronberger, Lynette Kronberger, Brent Kronberger, Kristine Tresemer-Boon, Tiffany Tresemer, Ben Corcoran and Luke Kronberger; and two great-grandchildren, Brianna and Elsie Jarver.  He is also survived by three sisters, Dorothy Prior of Owen, Betty Pabich of Austin, TX, and Jean Lavey of Nekoosa; two sisters-in-law, Mary Kronberger of Wisconsin Rapids and Helen Kronberger of Marshfield. 
 

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, one grandson, Kurtis Timothy Tresemer, and two brothers, Ivan and Jerry. 
 

Funeral services for Wayne were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Neillsville.  Pastor Douglas Bjerke officiated.   Music was provided by Sharon Bjerke, organist.  Interment was in the York Center Cemetery.  Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and also on Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the United Methodist Church. 
 

Casketbearers were his grandchildren. 
 

Online condolences may be made at www.GescheFH.com.  
 

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted Wayne’s family with arrangements.