Arthur L. Brieske, 81, of Onalaska, died at his home Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in 1935 to Lewis and Mary (Winchell) Brieske of Ontario, Wis., and graduated from Ontario High School in 1953. Upon graduation, Art enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Japan. He married Kay Skarda of Ontario in 1956.
Art received his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1960 and his Master of Science degree in dairy science from the university in 1964. He was employed as a dairy specialist at UW-Madison’s Emmons Blaine Experimental Farm in Lake Mills, Wis., from 1960 to 1970.
In 1970, Art began his career at WWTC in La Crosse, serving as program head and instructor of production agriculture and various other agriculture division programs within the college throughout his career. He was instrumental in developing and maintaining an on-the-job training program to supplement classroom learning at more than 50 sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and northern Illinois. In 1984, Art received the Wisconsin Association of Vocational Agriculture Instructors (WAVAI) Post-Secondary Agriculture Instructor of the Year and was a member of the WAVA “Twenty-Year Club”, a fraternal organization for Wisconsin agriculture teachers with more than 20 years in the teaching profession.
Art was also very community minded. During the time his children were attending school, he was active in various organizations within the Onalaska School District, such as the Vocational Advisory Committee, PTA, and the Athletic Booster Club. He served as a coach for the youth basketball, baseball and flag football programs for the Onalaska rec program for many years and assisted with the Onalaska swim team for 10 years. Art also volunteered with the UW-Cooperative Extension as a Master Gardener and had been actively involved with other area organizations, such as the West Salem County Farm Committee, the Oak Knoll Care Center in Onalaska, area county fairs, and the Hixon Forest trails and Weather Haven, both in La Crosse. Art was also instrumental in establishing and maintaining more than 100 bluebird houses throughout Wildcat Mountain State Park.
Art was a long-time active member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Onalaska, where he served as an usher and religious studies instructor.
Art enjoyed his family, horses, dogs, hunting, and gardening and sharing his produce with friends and neighbors. Art was an incredible person. He was loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure.
He is survived by his wife, Kay; his children, Judy (Rahn) Pischke, Jody (Terry) Fee, Jeff (Mary) Brieske, Kim (Steve) Thornton, Tom (Amy) Brieske, Paul (Milt) Brieske, Art (Michelle) Brieske, Mary (Tracy) Brieske and Marcy Lattos; his grandchildren, Elizabeth (Eric), Blake (Amanda), Kate (Alex), Robert (Beth), Kelsey (Michael), Josh (Keri), Jenny (Dave), Joe (Kristin), Ashley, Lauren, Emily, Nicole, Brooke, Anna, Maggie, David and Peter; and his great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Zachary, Harrison, Ezio, Mikayla, Ben, Tyler, Ethan, Mason, Bailey and Morgan.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Kate; his parents; a sister, Delgetta; and a brother, Erwin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1031 Main St., in Onalaska. Msgr. Steven Kachel will officiate. Burial, with military honors provided by Ontario American Legion Post 467, will take place at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Mount Tabor. Family and friends may call from 5–8 p.m. Wednesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 907 Sand Lake Road, in Onalaska, and from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Thursday at the church. Online condolences may be submitted at www.schumacher-kish.com.
