Kenneth Natzke
Kenneth “Kenny” A. Natzke, 80, of the town of Berlin, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau.
He was born on May 29, 1942, to the late Eric and Linda (Fiedler) Natzke at the family home in the town of Hamburg. Kenny graduated from Athens High School in the class of 1960. On June 29, 1963, he was united in marriage to the former Paulette Marth at Zion Lutheran Church in the town of Rib Falls.
Early in Kenny’s career, he was employed by Harley-Davidson in Milwaukee. In 1972 he moved his family back home to Hamburg, where Kenny and Paulette helped his father-in-law, Milton Marth, pursue their dream starting Marth Companies. Kenneth joined the Hamburg Fire Department in 1975, eventually becoming chief from 1987 - 2000. During his tenure with the fire department, Kenny achieved and received the fireman of the year award in 2000. He retired from the fire department in 2005 and later that year he retired from his work with their businesses. After his retirement, they purchased a winter home in Florida, which he enjoyed with his family and many new friends. They also enjoyed summer weekends at their lake home on Lake Nokomis at Tomahawk.
Beyond his work, Kenny was involved with other hobbies and interests. He was a founding member of the Hamburg Rainbow Riders Snowmobile Club. While at home, Kenny especially enjoyed patrolling the yard with his golf cart. His favorite stop was at his prize garden, where he would pick raspberries and fresh vegetables which he enjoyed sharing with family and friends. Many knew he had great carpentry skills; he proudly taught his grandsons his crafts that will continue to be part of his legacy. He also spent time with friends bowling, playing shuffleboard, working with his bulldozer, fishing, and traveling with Paulette. In October of 2002 on a road trip they stopped in Kiln, Miss., and met Brett Favre’s sister and brother at their restaurant and Brett’s mother at her Hallmark store. During one of their travels in 2004, at the Houston Rodeo, Kenny and Paulette were seated near our 41st President George H.W. Bush and got an autographed picture with him. He remembered that it was like meeting an old friend.
Another hobby enjoyed by Kenny was maintaining a game farm for many years, where he raised various birds, whitetail, fallow and reindeer, and most recently elk. That lead to one of his favorite family events, which was getting together to make venison sausage, meat sticks and smoked hams, which were his mother Linda’s recipes. He learned how to cold smoke sausage from his father, Eric. Everybody in the neighborhood knew of his smokehouse and his meat smoking skills, and they would bring over their venison sausages where he would smoke them to perfection. Survivors include his wife, Paulette; son, Jerome (Michele) Natzke; grandchildren: Lauren (Robert) Blume, Monica (Brent) Krautkramer, Kayleigh (Craig) Frieders, Jeremy Natzke and Justin (Jamie) Natzke; great-grandchildren: Charlie Blume, Adah Blume, Baylor Blume, Lincoln Krautkramer, Marynn Krautkramer, Brynn Frieders and Shay Frieders; daughter, Julie (Craig) Kuehn; and grandchildren: Erica (Noah) Witt, Collin Kuehn and Ethan Kuehn; Kenny’s brothers and sisters: Erich (Cheryl) Natzke, Amaryllis (LeRoy) Bath, Muriel Zinkowich, Larry (Geraldine) Natzke, Mavis (John) Dowe and Allen (Michelle) Natzke; sisters-in-law: Sandra Martyn and Carol (Larry) Edwards; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers-in-law: Darrell “Bozo” Zinkowich and Edward Martyn.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Marathon, with Pastor Jon Hadler presiding. Visitation for family and friends was on Tuesday, Dec. 27, beginning at 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the church. The visitation concluded with a prayer service. Visitation resumed on Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., the time of service at the church. Burial will take place in the spring in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Stettin.
Memorials are preferred to Little Lions Childcare or to Northland Lutheran High School.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.
Paid obituary 130355
