William "Bill" George Laehn

William George Laehn, also known as “Cold Water Bill,” died peacefully on Sunday, October 16, 2016, at Homme Home in Wittenberg.

He was born in Shawano, Wisconsin, on February 16, 1930, to Herman and Minna (Duwe) Laehn.  Bill graduated from Shawano High School in 1948.  In 1950, he joined the U.S. Navy and served four years in the Korean War.  He married the love of his life, Jean Alft, on August 26, 1951, and they had six children.

Bill’s faith was important to him, and he was very involved in his church.  At family mealtime prayers, he thanked God for his family and regularly said, “I am such a lucky man.  God has blessed me with a loving wife and children.”  He was a very gentle man and truly enjoyed making people laugh, for instance, “making a moth ball” for his grandchildren.  He loved being around people and oftentimes was the life of the party.  He was involved in the various Shawano community groups, such as Little League, Jaycees, Kiwanis, and the American Legion.  He enjoyed bowling, golfing, and telling jokes.  He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and attended the “Ice Bowl.”  When the Packers were not playing up to his expectations, he often called them “Dumb Bunnies” and the opposing team “Dirty Pups.”

He is survived by his wife, Jean; six children:  Kathryn (Russell) Krueger, Kennesaw, Georgia; William R. (Deborah) Laehn, Gresham; David (Sandra) Laehn, Merrill; Mary (Richard) Akey, Merrill; Jeannine (Gregory) Geiger, Eau Claire; Elizabeth (Thomas) Moris, Crandon; grandchildren:  Billi Jo (Nathan) Johnson, Kristen Akey, Richard R. (Lisa) Akey, Melissa Krueger, Russell L. (Erin) Krueger, Jessica Krueger, Elizabeth Krueger, Reid Geiger, Alyssa (Jesse) Bates, Bridger Moris, Grant Geiger, Tanner Moris, Adam Laehn; great grandchildren: Hailee Falls, Hanna Falls, Ella Johnson, Sydney Hutton, Liv Firnstahl, and Oliver Krueger; brother, Gary Laehn; and in-laws:  DeLail Alft, Fern Henke, Robert and Carol Rotter, and Joan Laehn.  

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Shirley Schneider, Nancy Jean Laehn, and Carol Breitrick; in-laws:  Ardis Alft, Henry Henke, George Schneider, and Gene Breitrick; and son-in-law, Russell Krueger.

Funeral services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, Tigerton, Wisconsin, on Saturday, October 22, 2016, with the Rev. Matthew Uttenreither officiating.  The family will receive friends from 9 to 11 AM, with the service starting at 11 AM.  Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, Tigerton, with military honors conducted by American Legion Post # 239 of Tigerton.  

Jean and the family would like to thank the nurses at Homme Home and those who took the time to visit Bill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to a charity of your choice or to the Tigerton Public Library.

The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Marion is assisting Bill’s family.

An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.

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