Walter Gustav
Naujock
Click here to view the funeral service held on June 12th, 2020
Click here to view the committal prayers and military honors held on June 13th, 2020
Naujock, Walter Gustave Karl
Went Home to his Savior on June 4th, 2020 at the age of 86. Beloved husband of Zoila “Chela” Naujock (nee Ruiz De Castilla). Dear father of Kenneth (Chris Bushey) Naujock, Carmen (Matthew) Johns, and Karl (Stephanie Kollaszar-Naujock) Naujock. Proud Grandfather of Anna (Tyler) Swessel, Kaitlyn (Michael) Peterson, Ian Naujock, K. Mitchell Naujock, Gabriella Kapel and Karl Thomas “KiT” Naujock. Great-grandfather of Ava and Tristan (Tico) Swessel. Preceded in death by parents Gustav and Katherine (nee Wendt), and siblings Marie Sjokvist and Hilda Lenz. Further survived by his sister Esther (Arthur) Papenfus of Golden, CO. Also survived by other relatives and friends.
Limited visitation will be held on Friday, June 12th from 5pm– 6:30pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 9200 S. 27th St, Oak Creek, and a Funeral service will follow at 6:30pm. For the health and safety of all who attend, the occupancy of the facility will be closely monitored to reflect local guidelines. The family thanks you all for your patience.
Interment Woodlawn Cemetery.
Walter was a retired carpenter and general contractor, and a proud veteran of the US Army Vanguard Project (pre-curser to NASA).
Special thanks to Christina Voss and Senior Helper that allowed him to be cared for at home these past 5 years.
Walter Gustave Karl Naujock was born at his family home in Bay View on September 12, 1933. He was the youngest of four children born to Gustave and Katherine Naujock. He went to grade school at St. Lucas Lutheran and was confirmed there. In the summers, he would take the streetcar to Bolivar Ave. where it ended, and walk to the farms there now known as Milwaukee’s Garden District. At the farm he would weed the rows of onions for five cents a row. When he entered 6th grade the salary whent to ten cents a row. He went to Bay View High School and graduated in 1951. After highschool, he went to MATC downtown and graduated with his degree in carpentry.
After graduation he entered an apprenticeship with Jim Kirshek building homes on the south side of Milwaukee until he was drafted in 1956. He did his basic training at Ft. Lennardwood, MO. From there, he went to Ft. Gordon, GA to enter Radio School for the Army Signal Corps. From Ft. Gordon, he was assigned to the Pentagon for Satellite training and was detached to the Navy for Project Vanguard (precursor to what later became NASA). He had his choice of assignment, and he chose Lima, Peru.
In Peru, he was part of a team of Navy scientist in charge of setting up one of the first satellite listening stations in the world. On October 4, 1957, while conducting routine tests at the station, they started to pick up signals where they did not expect any. Walter placed the call to the Pentagon to inform them. Pentagon Officials informed my father that the Russians had just launched Sputnik, and that they should continue to monitor the signal.
It was also while his time in Peru, that, there was a New Years Eve party to welcome in the new year 1958 at the former Japanese Ambassador’s residence. The residence was also called The Pensión. It was there that night that he met Zoila Carmela Maria Ruiz de Castilla, affectionately called Chela. That night they won a dance contest together. On May 2, 1959 they were married at St. Lucas church in Bay View.
Wally got his old job back with Jim Kirshek, and they set up residence on Austin St. in Bay View. In 1961, Wally and Chela welcomed their first child Kenneth; then in 1963, a daughter, Carmen. It was also in 1963 that Wally took over the old Jim Kirshek shop in St. Francis. He started W. G. Naujock Builders. It was also in 1963 that he started looking for land for a new home, and settled on a new neighborhood in rural Franklin, WI. The new home was built, and the family moved to Franklin in 1964. The family lived there peacefully until 1969 when their youngest son Karl was born.
The family home in Franklin was idyllic. The children grew up working the family garden in summer. And a swimming pool to enjoy with friends and cousins all summer long. The family attended church, and the children went to St Paul’s Lutheran School. Wally often took the children to the shop in St. Francis to teach them the many skills needed to be a master craftsman and builder. Although none of his children at that time followed in his footsteps of building, we all appreciated the lessons that he taught us of hard work and dedication to be successful.
Sons Kenneth and Karl are now in the construction trades. Daughter Carmen is an office manager at her husband’s chiropractic clinic. Wally has three grandsons and three granddaughters, and two great grandchildren.
we are so sorry to hear of Wally’s passing. He was a good friend. Our sincere sympathy to the family.