Henry M. Kuester

Henry M. Kuester, of Waukesha, died on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at Merrill Hills Manor at the age of 96. He was born in the town of Loyal, WI on May 31, 1918 the son of Gustav and Emma (nee Bakerberg) Kuester. On June 5, 1948 he married Shirley Sternitzky. Henry proudly served his country in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII. In the Army he served in Patton’s 3rd Army where he helped reinforce Patton’s personal vehicles, reinforce tanker truck frames so Patton could move faster and helped modify the 50 caliber gun mounts in the B-17’s. Henry loved talking about WWII and was able to participate in a Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. He was a life member of the VFW Soat-Vergenz Post 721. Henry owned and operated Kuester’s Welding for 37 years and was often referred to as the Thomas Edison of Waukesha welding. Henry enjoyed fishing and hunting, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and was an exceptional family man. He was a longtime member of Mt. Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of 66 years, Shirley of Waukesha and their children, Carla (John) Friedrich; Cheryl (Terry) Krueger and James Kuester all of Waukesha. He was the dear grandfather of Molly Friedrich Kuester, Sarah (Peter) Vodak, Jason Kuester, Marisa Krueger, Jaren Kuester, Jacob Kuester, James Kuester Jr., Joshua (Amber) Kuester, Jerick Lee (Jackie) Kuester, Katherine Friedrich, Emily (Craig) Muehl and Kerrie (Cameron) Johnson-Friedrich and great-grandfather of Dylan Kuester, Sophia Vodak, Emerson Kuester and Zander and Declan Johnson. He is further survived by his brother Harry (Liz) Kuester of Tomahawk, his sister Minnie Schmidt of North Dakota along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Herman Schefus, Leone May, Lillian Darton, Edwin Kuester, Florence Welch, Alfred Kuester, Gustav Kuester Jr., and William Kuester.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 21, 2014 from 4:00PM until 7:00PM at the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Avenue, Waukesha. Visitation will continue on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Mt. Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church, 1941 Madison Street, Waukesha, WI 53188 from 9:30AM until the time of the 10:30AM funeral service. Pastor Michael Turriff will preside. Graveside services with full military honors will follow at Highland Memorial Park. Memorials in Henry’s name are appreciated to Mt. Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church or to NAMI Waukesha, 217 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 300, Waukesha, WI 53186. Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.