Dennis Bohl
Dennis Lawrence Bohl, a lifelong resident of Athens, age 90, passed away at Athenian Living, Athens, on March 18, 2026.
Dennis was born Sept 17, 1935, the only son of Lawrence and LaVerna Bohl, the second oldest of five children. He was born in Hamburg, in the yellow house next to the Fromm’s Silver Fox farm. His mother worked in the kitchen, and the family helped with the breeding of foxes. The Bohl farm is mentioned in “Bright With Silver”, by Katherene Pinkerton.
In 1942, the Bohl family bought Pioneer Bar and dance hall (formerly “Heiersville” bar), just south of Athens, from William Barkow. The family ran the bar, and also worked 40 acres with eight cows and two horses. The dance hall was removed to make room for an addition. Dennis graduated from Athens High School in 1953.
Dennis met his wife, Zenia Bronowicz, when her family moved in a mile down the road when her family moved to Athens from Bronson, Mich., in 1959. They were married September 10, 1960, at Athens Catholic Church with the reception held at Skylight Restaurant. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage September 10, 2025, but Zenia passed in March of 2025.
Dennis started at the Athens Feed Mill in 1954 while still in high school. He was the manager there until 1973. He joined Zenia’s brothers, Hank and Ed Bronowicz, when the three of them started Bronowicz Reconditioned Tractors in 1971. He worked with them until 1991 as a mechanic and salesman.
He later was a salesman for Badger International and Galvin Tractor Company in Wausau from 1991 until 1999. Then he put his mechanic talents to work at Miltrim Farms, Athens, partly owned by his son-in-law, Tom Mueller. Once fully retired, Dennis could still be seen mowing the many lawns at the Miltrim Farm locations until 2022.
He owned several motorcycles over the years and rode until he was in his 80s. Dennis loved hunting and was part of the local Drewek deer hunting crews. He also loved to fly fish. He enjoyed listening to Neil Diamond, country music and Meatloaf (the singer!) on vinyl records.
He was a jokester—always making everyone laugh. You could count on a hardy greeting when he saw you and he always did his signature "Denny Wave" when you passed him by.
Dennis is survived by his four daughters: Wanda (James) Norge, Lorene (Thomas) Mueller, Tracy (Dale) Westfall and Georgine Bohl (Gary) Albrecht, and his son, Steven (Jessica) Bohl. Also surviving are two grandsons: Tanner Westfall and Marcus Bohl; several step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Dennis is also survived by his younger sisters: Sharon Goldberg, Wisconsin Rapids and Donna (Russell) Zunker, Nekoosa.
Preceding him in death are his beloved wife, Zenia, his parents, Lawrence and LaVerna Bohl, infant daughter, Mary, his sisters: Janet and Florence, grandson, Tucker Westfall, niece Kristle Snyder, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
An informal celebration of life gathering was held Tuesday, March 24, at The Milkhaus on Miltrim Farms, Athens.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation that the family will put toward different beautification projects around Athens.
The family would like to give special thanks to the employees at Athenian Living, Pride TLC Weston, and St. Croix Hospice for the care they provided.
