Nick W. Beerntsen

Nick Walter Beerntsen, 67, was taken to the Lord suddenly on Wednesday, July 16. He was born December 9, 1957 in Green Bay, WI. He attended St. Mary of the Angels grade school and Premontre High School. He earned his Business degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After a brief insurance career in Chicago, Nick worked as a stockbroker in Cleveland, OH for several years and in Madison after returning to Wisconsin. Nick then switched careers and became a pharmaceutical sales representative for twenty years. In another career change, Nick worked for several years at the Catholic Diocese of Madison in stewardship and development. After retiring he took a part-time job in the Duluth Trading CO warehouse in Belleville to keep busy and have social interaction. Nick was always a dedicated and hard worker, having learned a strong work ethic in his youth working at the family candy store, Beerntsen’s Candies.

Nick met his wife Kathy in her optometry office pitching his new migraine drug. Their first date was July 9, 1993 and they annually celebrated that anniversary as well as the anniversary of their wedding date, October 7, 1994. Nick and Kathy loved traveling, visiting dozens of National Parks as well as more than a few wineries. Nick was always enthusiastic about visiting new places and trying new activities. A favorite recent trip was a 2023 pilgrimage to France and Spain including walking 100 miles on the Camino de Santiago. Another memorable vacation was a 2013 bird-watching vacation in Mississippi that led to the "surprise" adoption of a stray dog they found along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Nick and Kathy purchased an 1892 farmhouse in the town of Dunn with 8 acres of land. Their 30 years of marriage include many home renovations and establishing a series of prairies on the property. Even though Nick and Kathy were not blessed with children, they were always the "pet parents" of many cats and dogs, all rescues from various situations. The peaceful country setting was always soothing to Nick who always claimed his blood pressure dropped as he exited the Beltline and headed for home.

To call Nick a sports fan was quite an understatement. His favorite teams were the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Men’s Basketball team. Nick and Kathy attended the Badger basketball games for 19 years. In recent years Nick enjoyed an annual Brewers' opening day game with his brother-in-law Pat and his brothers. Nick enjoyed watching almost any sport and had the most encyclopedic memory for sports history and trivia. He was also a natural athlete and participated in many sports over the years, including tennis, sailing, ping pong, golf and the occasional brutally competitive bocce ball game with his brothers-in-law. In the last twelve years, Nick and Kathy golfed together frequently, enjoying the time spent together in their shared hobby. Nick shot a hole-in-one in November of 2017, one of his proudest moments.

Nick was a loyal and true friend to many people and was committed to maintaining friendship from every era of his life, from grade school, high school, college and throughout his working life. He was the original host and co-creator of an annual event known as the Bondathon, a weekend of sports and hanging out with a group of longtime friends. He was a member of the Hoofer sailing club and enjoyed many get-togethers with lots of Jimmy Buffett music. He took every opportunity to visit, telephone or text with his many friends and actually took time to write letters along with the Christmas cards he sent each year.

Nick was kind, optimistic, joyful, humorous and fun-loving. He had a way of bringing people together rather than dividing them. He loved spending time with family and friends. He was above all a man of faith. A lifelong Catholic, he not only attended Mass regularly but said the rosary daily. He had a heart of service and volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry for several years. For twenty years he served as an usher, and then head of ushers, at Our Lady Queen of Peace parish.

Nick is survived by his wife Kathy (Theisen) Beerntsen, brother Mark Beerntsen, sisters Mary (Pat) Webb and Brenda Beerntsen; in-laws Joe Theisen, Dick Theisen, Harry and Joanne Theisen, Jeanne and Jerry Russell, Denny and Mary Theisen, Mary and Steve Wolf, Beth and Roy Aycock, and Tom and Kathy Theisen; 32 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Mel and Theresa (Walczyk) Beerntsen, and Kathy's parents Herman and Clarice (Moser) Theisen.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Nick will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 401 South Owen Drive, Madison, WI on Thursday, July24 at 12:00. Visitation will take place from 10:00 until the time of Mass.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul Society or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434