Vernon Lee Baumgart

• Visitation will be held from 10am to time of service at Noon at RAYMOND COMMUNITY CHURCH  8217 W. Six Mile Road “Hwy G” on Saturday, January 18^th,, 2025.  A luncheon will be held directly after the church service at River City Lanes in Waterford.

Vernon Lee Baumgart died on January 11, 2025 after a life well lived. He was a kind, humble, empathetic man, who people liked immediately. Born December 13, 1938 to Alfred and Florence (Schwedler) Baumgart in Burlington, WI, he grew up in Union Grove then settled in Raymond for the majority of his time. He married his dancing partner for life, June Hansen, on November 12, 1960 at Raymond United Church of Christ. Following a year of active duty in the National Guard in Tacoma, WA, Vern had a 34-year career at Wisconsin Natural Gas Company (WE Energies) and progressed from the early days of computer programming to project leader. After retiring, he worked with Compuware Corp as a consultant back to WE Energies. A second retirement allowed him to spend much more time at the cabin on Lost Lake in St Germain.

Over his 86 years, many different communities benefited from Vern’s steadfast dedication through multiple terms on the Raymond School Board, Union Grove High School Board, as Raymond Town Treasurer, as a valuable member at Raymond Community Church and amongst his Lost Lake neighbors.

Vern loved his family more than anything. He also loved playing cards with friends, gardening and growing evergreen trees (Baumgartner is German for tree gardener), fishing, fishing and fishing. Whether ice fishing in the winter, fishing in Canada in May or on Lost Lake in the summer, he had many stories of the one that got away and a few stories and photos of “a big one”. Sunday nights were always reserved for his fishing conversations with his brother, Lloyd, and he introduced his kids, grandkids and great grandkids to the art of bluegill fishing from the pier at the cabin. Sports were also important to Vern, and he spent many hours watching various high school games and Wisconsin sports teams. Some of Vern’s favorite memories involved hunting and fishing trips with dear friends, in addition to other travel adventures with June.

Vern leaves behind his wife of 64 years June(nee Hansen); his daughters Kris (Fritz) Grutzner, Luann (Peter) Bronek, Karla (Paul) Hansen; grandchildren Eva (Bradley) Grutzner Cox, Sophie Grutzner, Emma Rose, Anna Grutzner, Lydia Fliess; great grandchildren Elijah and Eleanor Grutzner Cox; siblings Shirley Busch, Beverly Hall, Marilyn (Warren) Whitley; sister-in-law Wilma Baumgart; stepsiblings Jerry (Jan) Christiansen and Julie Hegeman; brothers- and sisters-in-law Dick (Paulette) Hansen, Linda E. Hansen and Chuck (Roberta) Hansen.

Predeceased family members include his beloved grandson, Shaymus Guinn; brothers Eugene and Lloyd Baumgart; stepbrothers Ken and Gus Christiansen; parents Alfred and Florence Baumgart; stepmother Helen Baumgart; in-laws Jack, Elna and John Hansen.

Please join us in celebrating our love and admiration for Vern at RAYMOND COMMUNITY CHURCH  8217 W. Six Mile Road “Hwy G” on Saturday, January 18^th,, 2025, visitation will be held from 10am to time of service at Noon. A luncheon will be held directly after the church service at River City Lanes in Waterford.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorials to the MACC Fund- Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (https://maccfund.org/donation/) or Raymond Community Church (https://www.raymondchurchucc.org/give) are appreciated.

Heritage Funeral Home

9200 So. 27^th Street            (414)761-2750

www.heritagefuneral.com