Obituary Final Draft

Danielle Buechel

Bruno Buechel, a Korean War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, died Thursday of natural causes at his home with his family at his side. He was 80.

Born October 10, 1928 the son of Clements and Margaret Buechel, Bruno attended a rural school house through grade seven. When he was 13, he dropped out of school and took a job driving a milk truck to help provide for his 11 brothers and sisters.

At age 19, Bruno was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his country in the Korean War until 1953 when, after sustaining life-threatening injuries, he was awarded a Purple Heart. He married the love of his life, Donna M. Broeckel of Charlesburg in 1956 and together they established a dairy farm and raised seven children. Bruno took on a second job at the Brillion Aluminum Specialty Plant to make ends meet and with help from his wife and children he managed to keep the Buechel Family Farm in production for 36 years.

Bruno retired from the farming industry in 1992 to focus on his real passion: cane pole fishing with his grandchildren. He spent many patient hours teaching his grandsons to tie fishing lures and to make the perfect cast. Bruno was also an avid deer hunter and he helped organize a hunting party which includes three generations of the Buechel family.

"Bruno was happiest when he was in the woods with his kids and grand kids," his wife Donna told friends, "he just loved nature and the thrill of hunting."

Bruno also enjoyed cable television and reading the newspaper and often could be seen circling the block in his Ford pickup truck to oversee crop planting. Though he was a quiet man, he looked forward to visits with his grandchildren and trips to the local barber.

Survivors include his wife Donna; his children Dave (Dianne) Buechel, Richard (Darlene) Buechel, Patty Buechel, Dennis Buechel, Kady Buechel, Sandy Ziegelbauer (Jeff) and Sue Buechel. He is further survived by nine siblings, many nieces and nephews and five grandchildren; Danielle and Ben Buechel of Chilton, Kristin and Eric Buechel of Stockbridge and Emily Ott of Brothertown.
Bruno was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Maggie Joas, a brother Benjamin Buechel and a nephew Robert Joas.

"His quiet demeanor and comforting smile will be missed by all who knew and loved him," a family friend said of Bruno, "he’s hunting and fishing up in heaven now and we know he’s happy."

Services will be at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Augustine Church, Chilton with the Rev. Gary S. New S.D.S officiating. Friends and family may call at the Wieting Family Funeral Home 411 W. Main Street, Chilton from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday.