Dec. 4, 2016 – West Bend, WI – Harold K. “Harry” German passed away peacefully on December 3, 2016 with his wife by his side.
He was born June 26, 1929 to Bert and Theresa (née Flasch) German.
He was a kind and gentle man. He loved his family, his church and his community. In a time of constant chatter, Harry let his actions speak louder than his words.
He married the love of his life, Janette (née Schuh) in 1957 and spent the rest of his life by her side. Together they put down roots in West Bend and raised a family.
In 1955, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin after serving his country during the Korean Conflict. As Janette was a Marquette University alum, they had a “mixed marriage” during basketball season. He ultimately passed along his love of Badger football and basketball to all three of his children who became UW grads (but who obtained their respective advanced degrees from Marquette.). Some of his grandchildren have already followed in Harry’s footsteps at the UW.
Harry worked for the Wisconsin Electric Power Company for 36 years retiring as Secretary of the Employee Mutual Benefit Association in 1991. For decades he served the employees of WEPCo with a ready smile and a helping hand on employee benefit matters big and small.
Harry was active in his parish, Holy Angels Catholic Church, serving as a trustee, lector, and as a friendly face to fellow parishioners on Sunday mornings. Together with Janette and a few other parishioners, he started and grew the Senior Citizen day trip program at the church.
Harry believed in giving back to the Community. He served as the Chairman for Wisconsin Electric for a number of United Way campaigns. He served as Chairman of Red Cross of Washington County. He coached Little League baseball. He drove people to doctor appointments. When life called, he answered. When people asked, he gave.
Although he hated needles, he participated with Janette in a 25-year study on the effects of aging run by the National Institute of Health.
His ready smile, quick wit and friendly demeanor will be sorely missed, but the role he modeled will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
He has finally been “called up” to join the rest of his “Feet” Miller’s softball team in a higher league. They have been waiting for their second baseman.
Harry is survived by his wife Janette, his sons, Tom (Karyn), Peter (Sue), and John (Tamara Grobschmidt) and grandchildren, Ben, Jacqui (Mats Forsius), Jenni, Peter Jr., Jessie and Josie and his brother, Jim. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Paul and Edward (Mary).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Holy Angel’s Catholic Church (138 N. 8th Ave., West Bend) on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016 with Rev. Gerald Brittain and Rev. Jerome Repenshek presiding. Visitation will be at the CHURCH ONLY on Friday, December 9 from 11:00 am until time of Mass (2:00 pm).
Photo courtesy Angie Sidies