William M. “Butch” Hamele

PORTAGE  -- William M. “Butch” Hamele, age 88, of Portage, passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2016, surrounded by his loving family, at Tivoli in Portage.

Born on June 9, 1928, to Leonard and Ruth (Rose) Hamele in Edgerton, Wisconsin, William was loved and raised by John F. “Jack” and Florence (Hamele) Menke in Portage, Wisconsin. He attended the Cottage School, St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from Portage High School in 1946. William married Jean Anne Crowley on May 24, 1952, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Portage. He proudly served his country in the Forward Artillery in the US Army in Korea from 1952 to 1954 and was honorably discharged. He worked for the Milwaukee-Soo Railroads for 41 years and Adesa Auto Auction for 10 years. William belonged to the Knights of Columbus, Portage Elks Club, American Legion and the VFW. He was a baseball player, curler, golfer and enjoyed card playing. He was a Packer season ticket holder as well as Badger football, basketball and hockey fan.  

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jean; two sons, Michael Hamele of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Timothy (Eileen) Hamele of Madison, Wisconsin; three grandsons, Brian and Jeffrey of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Kevin of Arlington, Virginia; two granddaughters, Cait of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Meg of Madison, Wisconsin.

His siblings are Robert (Nathalie) Hamele, Warren Hamele, June (Robert) Miller, Jeanette (Edwin) Zagzebski, Joyce (Charles) Sheets, Leonard “Larry” Hamele and Kenneth Hamele. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2016, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Portage, Wisconsin, with Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl presiding. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Portage. Military honors will be provided by the Portage Area Veteran’s Honor Guard. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, September, 29, 2016, from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School, 315 W. Cook St., Portage, WI 53901 or Wisconsin Parkinson Association, 2819 W. Highland Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53208.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Carol Hamele and Jean Kuhn as well as to Tivoli where the staff provided excellent care and compassion during his final days as well as to Agrace HospiceCare.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.