Peter John Patek

Peter John Patek, age 77, longtime Mishicot area resident, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, January 24, 2024, with his daughter by his side.

Peter was born in Two Rivers, WI on August 7, 1946, to Van and Mary (Kuffel) Patek. He attended Holy Cross school in Mishicot and graduated from Mishicot High School with the class of 1964.

Peter worked hard his entire life, first on the family farm as the oldest of 11 children, including tending to colonies of honey bees. He worked at Paragon Electric Company shortly after high school and was a rural route postal carrier for many years. He began his life-long machinist career as a journeyman machinist at The Manitowoc Company in 1965. During his 43 year career at The Manitowoc Company, he worked his way up from journeyman machinist to foreman before rejoining the shop as a CNC machine operator, machining rotating beds for Manitowoc Cranes. He retired on the first day of what would have been his 44th year in 2009.

When he was drafted into military service in 1971, he joined the Army Reserves and continued his training and career as a machinist.  During his time with the Army Reserves, he visited many Forts and Army Bases throughout the United States, beginning a lifetime of travel.  He served seven years with the Army Reserves before his discharge in 1978 achieving the rank of Specialist E4.

In his youth, he enjoyed the fast sports cars of the late 1950s and early 1960s, racing snowmobiles, and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles, including serving as an early road captain of the Immortals Motorcycle Club.  Combining his passion for antique farm machinery and his skills as a machinist later in life, he repaired and restored many tractors, engines and caterpillars over the years in his machine shop at home, with a particular fondness for the old two-cylinder John Deere tractors. If he wasn’t in the shop working on his next project, he could be found tending to his large garden, a love inherited from his Grandmother Anna.

In April 1981, he married the former Linda Vlasak at Holy Redeemer Church in Two Rivers.  Early in their marriage, they traveled the continental United States from coast to coast, including trips to Canada and Mexico.  A favorite travel destination was Las Vegas as he was always ready for a good game of poker or blackjack, and closer to home, he was a sharp sheepshead player.  He also traveled to many antique tractor and engine shows throughout the Midwest and was a lifetime member of many tractor clubs and organizations in Wisconsin, including the Tri-County Threshermen's Association, Dodge County Antique Power Club, Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club, and North Central WI Antique Steam & Gas Engine Club. He was also a lifetime member of the Westshore Sportsman's Club in Two Rivers.

In his retirement, he kept busy working on machining projects for family, friends and neighbors.  He enjoyed the nickname of “Poor Pete” as he “made the rounds” at his favorite local establishments but he was far from “Poor Pete” as he did not want for anything.  He understood time spent in the company of family and friends listening to old country music on the radio with a cold beer in hand was priceless.  He had a big heart, kind and generous soul, and a life full of love and laughter with a wonderful sense of humor.

He will be greatly missed by his two beloved daughters Kimberly Patek (special friend, Craig Kurey) of DePere, and Michelle Neuser (special friend, Bill Schwerma) of Mishicot; his brothers and sisters: Veronica (Duane) Pekarek, Kewaunee, Clare (Dean) Pekarek, Mishicot, Marilyn (Thomas) Vanderkinter, Denmark, Tom Patek, Whitelaw, Joyce (Todd) Ratajczak, Two Rivers, George Patek, and Anita (Jeff) Roberts, all of Mishicot. He is further survived by his former spouse and mother of his daughters, Linda Miske, Mishicot; two brothers-in-law, John Rank, Manitowoc and George Blohowiak, Kirksville, MO; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Van and Mary Patek; one brother, James Patek; and two sisters, Rose Mary Blohowiak and Linda Rank.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 31st at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 3201 Mishicot Rd., Two Rivers. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Richard Klingeisen, with burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Mishicot. Military graveside honors will be accorded by members of VFW Post #7753 of Mishicot.

The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Wednesday morning from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. There will be no Tuesday evening visitation.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.dejamartin.com.

Deja & Martin Funeral Chapels of Two Rivers is assisting the Patek family with funeral arrangements.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the entire staff of Brillion West Haven for the exceptional care provided, and also to the caregivers of Heartland Hospice for their love and support.