Passed peacefully with his immediate family at his side on Sunday, December 4th at the age of 87.  He was a man of faith who walked in his truth.  He loved large and cared deeply.  He opened his heart to all.

He served the Milwaukee Public Schools from 1957 to 1990 as a teacher, coach and administrator and retired after 10 years of leadership at the Rufus King School for the College Bound.

He met his wonderful wife, Celleste Mickkelsen, at Yankton Christian College in South Dakota where they shared their passion for education, faith and music.  In 1957, they did the unexpected and loaded their car with a few belongings to make the long trek to Milwaukee for teaching positions and they never looked back.

Whether he was coaching, mentoring, volunteering, golfing (well, attempting to at least...), hunting, playing cards or telling tall tales, the essence of the time he spent with others was making authentic and loving connections.

He is survived by his loving wife, Celleste; three children and their partners Greg and Jackie (Stuver Hogan), Deb and La Jerne (Terry Cornish), and Tom and Patti Ptak; brothers Rich and Jim; grandchildren Daniel, Kim, Emily (Clover), Josh, Alex and Makenna; great grandson Lucas and niece Diane and nephew Barry.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 17th with a gathering at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m. at Spring Creek Church, N35 W22000 Capitol Drive Pewaukee, WI 53072.

Donations may be sent in his honor to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin (rmhc-easternwi.org).