Gunnar T Kroseberg

GUNNAR T KROSEBERG, 52, of Oconomowoc, WI, died at his home of a heart attack on the morning of  Wednesday, July 3rd. Born on May 25, 1972 as Thomas Gunnar Kroseberg, his parents, Bill and Susie Kroseberg, soon legally changed his name to Gunnar because they simply felt it fit who he would be (and it’s true).

He graduated from Oconomowoc High School playing football, at the same time developing his lifelong love of hockey. As soon as the ice on Lac La Belle would support him, he carried his net down the street to the channel to hone his skills. His real journey began with the Milwaukee Flyers then on to Minot, North Dakota playing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, finishing out junior hockey in the American Frontier League. Over the next decades, Gunnar played professionally across North America in the AHL, WCHL, CHL and COHL on teams that included Fresno, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, West Palm Beach, Nashville, Fairbanks, El Paso, Jackson Hole, Memphis, Kalamazoo, Texarkana, and Madison ~ returning at the end of each season to the place he called home. During this time he was a formidable defenseman whose job was to protect his teammates and that he did, until a career-ending injury forced an early retirement. His son, Hunter William Kroseberg, inherited his Dad’s love of hockey with Gunnar, often declaring he’s a better player than he ever was.

Gunnar’s much loved hockey scars, enduring semi-toothless smile, hilarious sense of humor and infectious laugh is what we all think of when we think of Gunnar. He would take a hit for any teammate, friend or family member no matter how hard the impact. He was a protector to the core, with a heart of gold like no other and would take the shirt off his back for anyone who

needed it. Fortunately, Hunter has all of these same qualities - spark, grit, dreams and lust for life as his father, and we know Gunnar was so deeply proud of him.

His death follows that of his father, William E. Jr., grandparents Don and Helen Huddleston and William and Janet Kroseberg, Uncle Pat Nettesheim, special Aunt Mary (Roy) Ellis and his loyal puck-chasing chocolate lab, Bam.

He is survived by his son, Hunter William, mother, Susie, brother Bill (Sheila) Kroseberg, sister Betsy Kroseberg, Hunter’s girlfriend, Emily Bartlett, and Aunts Judy Nettesheim, Anne (John) Walsh, cousins Scott (Daci) Johnson and Beth Nuernberger, nephews Hudson Llanas and Brian Kroseberg, nieces Molly (Chee) Lor and Emily Kroseberg, and cousins Sarah (Brandon) Hall, Peter Nettesheim, Kate (Andrew) Guilbeault, and Matthew (Leah) Walsh.

The family will welcome you at the visitation at Pagenkopf Funeral Home in Oconomowoc on Friday, July 26th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM with a private burial next to his father in Waukesha’s Prairie Home Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the fundraising campaign “Melt the Debt, Secure the Future” for the Lakeland Hawks Ice Arena in Minocqua, WI would be appreciated. Left-handed Hunter will be donating all of his right-handed father’s sticks and equipment to kids who love hockey.

Heartfelt thanks to Meredith Brewer and next door neighbors, Christi and Scott Campbell, Vino Etcetera, and the countless people who have expressed their love for Gunnar. He truly treasured each and every one of you.