Bruce Winters Hunt

Bruce Winters Hunt passed away on December 23 at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee following heart surgery. Robert Bruce and Shirley Elizabeth (Winters) Hunt welcomed their son Bruce into the world on November 4,1946 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Throughout his life he had wonderful memories of time spent on his grandparents' farm forming close bonds with his cousins, especially Kay Krueger, Tom Traeder, and Jane Olson. After living in Wonewoc and Hillsboro, the Hunt family moved to Janesville when Bruce was in junior high. He graduated from Janesville High school in 1964.

Shortly after graduation, Bruce was hired by Wisconsin Telephone Company and worked installing and repairing telephones for the next 35 years. He continued to do phone work on his own for several more years. Even after he hung up his tool belt, former customers called for advice or with hopes he would work on their phone systems.

He served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970. Those who knew him heard stories about his time in the military. Many of those were about serving at Wheelus AFB in Libya at the time the Arab revolutionary regime overthrew the government run by King Idris.

He married Lou Anne Franzene on August 2, 1975 in Lake Geneva. The date was chosen to coincide with the Black Hills Motor Classic in Sturgis, South Dakota. Bruce and Lou Anne would make several return trips to visit the Larsons and tour the Black Hills area during the Sturgis Rally.

Though longing to have the traditional one boy to carry on the Hunt family name, Bruce was blessed with two daughters, Carley and Katie, who have fond memories of motorcycle camping trips, traveling by sidecar with their dad, and his undeniable ability to carry anyone through a crisis.

After spending years going to motorcycle swap meets, driving to motorcycle rallies, and making lifelong biker friends, Bruce took up fishing and went on fishing adventures on area lakes as well as in Canada with many of his fishing buddies.

The hobby he enjoyed the most was being his grandson’s number one sports fan. He was such a dedicated fan, Mason once commented that his grandpa had only missed four games in the entire time he played baseball, football, soccer, and basketball.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marjorie Hunt Rothfuss, and in-laws James Rothfuss, Carl and Mary Franzene, Carl B.Franzene, John Franzene, and Barbara and Bob Fukal. He is survived by his wife Lou Anne, daughters Carley (Tom) Stapleton and Katie (Matt Drilias) Hunt, grandson Mason (Michaela Kaminski) Hunt, bonus granddaughters Henley and Claire Stapleton, great grandson Finnegan Winters Hunt, and in-laws Mary Anne and Dan Kroll, Michael and Lois Franzene, Don and Carrie Franzene, Jerry Franzene, Jo Anne Franzene, and Brian Franzene. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 14 from 10 to noon at Pagenkopf Funeral Home (2228 N. Silver Maple Lane, Oconomowoc, WI 53066). A memorial service will follow at noon.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Disabled Veterans, the Oconomowoc Food Pantry, or the Ixonia Food Pantry.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Aurora Summit and Hartland who cared for Bruce through the years and to the skilled doctors and dedicated nurses in both the CICU and the CVICU at Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital who cared for him in his final days.