Elmer Dushek

Elmer J. Dushek Waupaca, WI Elmer (Duke) Dushek, age 94, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at Bethany Home in Waupaca. He was born on June 17, 1915 in Portage, WI, the son of Frank and Clara (McLeish) Dushek. A Lodi, WI native, Duke first came to Waupaca in 1939 as part of his work with the government farm loan program. He received an agriculture teaching and animal husbandry degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he was a member of the football team and the national championship boxing team. He was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity at Madison. He married Leona “Onie” Kutz on June 27, 1940 in Lodi, WI. She preceded him in death on August 13, 1967. On August 26, 1972 he married Lillian “Bunny” Martin in Waupaca. She preceded him in death on October 23, 2004. He purchased the Waupaca Brick Corporation in 1944 and the company produced about 4-5 million bricks annually. An ardent sports fan and golfer, Duke was a founding father of several Waupaca civic and sports organizations. He was instrumental in establishing the Waupaca Nomads in 1957; an organization dedicated solely to fellowship and assisting area youth programs. Over the years they generously supported the youth center, post-prom party, Chain Skiers, youth hockey, Waupaca Speed Skaters, soccer, and AFS. The club supported Waupaca’s Evans Scholars furnishing scholarships to Waupaca area students attending UW-Madison. The Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce honored Duke as its 1992 Person of the Year. Elmer is survived by three daughters; Deanna Chase of Dallas, TX, Mary (Lawrie) Kull of Sturgeon Bay, and Margo (James) Strebe of Little Rock, AR, his son; James (Elaine Sleigh) Dushek of Chicago, IL, six grandchildren; Andrew (Holly) Kull, Elizabeth (John) Marsack, Stacey (Greg) Otwell, Kari (Paul) Phillips, Ann (Jeff) May, and Mary Alice (Michael) Guinta, ten great grandchildren; Alexandria Kull, Arianna Marsack, Helena Marsack, Alexandria Otwell, Caroline Otwell, MacKenzie Phillips, Kennedy Phillips, Hallie Phillips, Sydney May, Jaden Guinta, and a sister; Leone Voight of Lodi. He was preceded in death by his wives, Leona and Lillian, two grandsons; Michael J. Radtke and William J. Dushek, his parents, a brother; Raymond Dushek, and a sister; Lorraine Traut. A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Waupaca, WI on Monday, April 12, 2010 at 11:00 AM, with the Reverend Cathy J.N. Weigand, officiating, assisted by Elmer’s nephew, Reverend Bill Dushek. Interment will be in the Lakeside Memorial Park Cemetery in Waupaca. A visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Monday from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to either the First United Methodist Church of Waupaca, or Bethany Home of Waupaca in the name of Elmer J. Dushek. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca, WI is assisting the family with arrangements. The family is very appreciative, and wishes to thank Bethany Home for their dedicated and caring attention to Elmer’s needs.

Elmer Dushek

June 17, 1915 - April 7, 2010