William "Bill" Lewitzke

Name: Visitation
Start: 11/01/2023 04:00 PM
End: 11/01/2023 07:00 PM
Location: Brainard Funeral Home and Cremation Center

January 22, 1936 — October 28, 2023

Wausau

William "Bill" Arthur Lewitzke died peacefully, early Saturday, October 28, 2023, at his home while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.

He was born January 22, 1936, in Wausau. His parents were the late Otto and Lydia (Gernetzke) Lewitzke. He married Joanne Marie (Golz) on October 17, 1959, in Wausau and they recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

Bill graduated from Wausau East High School in 1954. He was hired by the Wausau Police Department as a patrolman in July 1958, following two years of service in the U.S. Army. He was promoted to Juvenile Officer in 1970 and to Detective in 1976. He taught defensive driving classes and firearms practice. On June 22, 1973, he completed a course on law enforcement at the Quantico FBI National Academy in the state of Virginia. Bill enjoyed meeting the public and taking part in the planning of Wausau Community Events. He retired from the department as Inspector of Detectives in 1993 with 35 years of service.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, his property in Northern WI, watching his children and grandchildren's sporting events and school programs. He also enjoyed playing baseball, hockey, card games, and was a fan of the Packers, Brewers and hockey teams. Bill enjoyed traveling with Joanne and Wally & Carmel. His favorite enjoyment was spending time with his beloved family. They enjoyed his chocolate chip cookies, beef jerky and popcorn.

Survivors include his wife, Joanne (Golz) Lewitzke; their children, Judith (Mark) Spear, Juliann ("Butch" Earl) Taylor and Jacklyn Dehnel. His cherished grandchildren are Bryan (Vicky) Gaulke, Andrew (Rylee), Landon (Jessica), Allyson and Emma Dehnel, Breann (Taylor) Whitmore and Katie (Dalton) Pando; great-grandchildren, Henrik Gaulke and Leila Whitmore; brothers, Frank (Connie) and Kenneth (Sue) Lewitzke; and sister, Doris Scheel. His little buddy is a little dog, Tessa.

Bill was a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Wausau since October 1959. He also was a past member of the Wausau Elks Club, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Masonic Temple of Wausau.

Besides his parents, Bill is preceded in death by granddaughter, Jodie Anna Gaulke; brother, Charles Lewitzke; nephew, Frank "Butch" Lewitzke; brothers-in-law, Lloyd "Christy" Sheel and Carleton Meilahn; and sisters-in-law, Delores Lewitzke, Pat Lewitzke and Sarah "Sally" Lewitzke.

Visitation will be held at Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams St, Wausau from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1st. The funeral service will be on Thursday, November 2nd at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 512 McClellan St, Wausau with a pre-service visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Karoline Schwantes will officiate.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation for the kind and compassionate care given to Bill, and also his family, to the doctors and staff at Aspirus Regional Cancer Center, Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services and the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin.

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