Joseph Kessenich

Waunakee - Joseph L. (Joe) Kessenich, 89, of Waunakee passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2015 while surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer. Joe was born on a farm near Waunakee on July 22, 1926, the son of Joseph M. and Catherine (Kurth) Kessenich. He graduated from Waunakee High School in 1944. He married Donna Treinen of Lodi on August 11, 1949 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lodi.

Shortly after graduating from High School Joe entered the Army. He served during World War II with the 27th Infantry Division on Okinawa and with the 720th Military Police Battalion in the occupation of Japan until November of 1946. Upon his return to Waunakee he was an original member of Company G, 32nd Infantry Division, Wisconsin National Guard when they were given Federal Recognition in February, 1947. He served 14 years in the Wisconsin National Guard, and retired at the rank of Major.

Joe spent 14 years with Robertson Transportation Company in Madison as Traffic Manager and Vice President of Operations. He was President and General Manager of Terminal Warehouse and Storage Company of Monroe which he and his brother Bob purchased in 1960. They sold the company in 1967 and he was then Director of Safety and Personnel for Clairmont Transfer in Escanaba, Michigan for 7 years and then was named Vice President and General Manager of their Phoenix Division in Milwaukee. Joe finished his 42 year career in transportation as President of Flexible Transport, in Milwaukee, a subsidiary of CW Transport of Wisconsin Rapids, and as President of CP America in Milwaukee which was a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railroad of Toronto, Ontario Canada.

Joe and Donna lived 18 years in Union Grove, Wisconsin where he served several terms as President of the St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Council, was a member of the Milwaukee Archdiocese Pastoral Council and was a member of the Union Grove Lumber Company Board of Directors until his death. They returned to his home town of Waunakee in 1997 where he was a member of the Waunakee-Westport Lions Club, the American Legion Post 360, the VFW Post, and was an active member of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Westport.

Joe's first love was his family. He was always very happy to have a visit from one of his children and their families. The frequent gatherings of the entire family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were very special to him. He was also an avid sports fan especially following the Badger football and basketball teams and the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed many rounds of golf at the area courses especially with the Monday morning group of Waunakee "old timers." Joe also completed the geneology of both the Kessenich and the Kurth families.

He is survived by Donna, his loving wife of 66 years, daughter Karen (Tom) Turner of Verona; sons Steve (partner Kristine Stueve), McFarland; Jim (Lee), Sun Prairie; Nick (Jeanne), Middleton; and Mark, Aguana, Guam. Joe had thirteen grandchildren: Brandon Kessenich, Verona; Jason Kessenich, Madison; Briana (Adam) Augustine and son Dane, Bartlett, IL; Kevin Skrenes, Denver, CO; Andy (Jenny) Skrenes and twin sons Carson and Cameron, Madison; Stefanie (Scott) Olson, and sons Nathan and Garrett, Kenosha; Ryan (Ashley) Kessenich, Milwaukee; Jim Burreson, Madison; Stephanie (Dan) Shamburek and son Wes, Cedarburg; Chris Bonjour, Madison; Marina Kessenich (partner Patrick Sharpe) and daughter Dexee, Burke, VA; Joe and Shawn Kessenich, Baltimore, MD. Two brothers: Robert (Lillias), Madison; Jack (Kathy), Shellsburg, IA, and two sisters: Lorraine French, Lodi; and Betty (John) Mulhern, Madison.

He was preceded in death by a son Edward, his parents, three brothers: Arthur, Donald and William; a brother-in-law Glen French, and sisters-in-law Dora (Kuehn) Kessenich, Marjorie (Vinyard) Kessenich and Margaret (Freiherr) Kessenich.

A visitation will be held at Winn-Cress Funeral Home in Waunakee on Friday, September 4, from 4-7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 5460 Mary Lake Rd, Waunakee at 11 am on Saturday, September 5, with Msgr. James Gunn officiating, with a visitation starting at 9 am. He will receive Military Honors by the Waunakee American Legion Post 360 following the funeral mass. A burial service for family members will be in the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Lodi at a later date.


Winn-Cress Funeral Home
5785 Hwy Q
Waunakee, WI 53597
608-849-4513