Milton W. Pirner

Milton W. Pirner, age 85, passed away on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton. Milton was born on July 28, 1925, in Appleton, son of the late William and Elsie (Burmeister) Pirner. He was raised and lived in Appleton his entire life. Milton was baptized, confirmed and graduated from Zion Lutheran Church. He graduated from Appleton High School in 1943, and served his country during World War II in the United States Coast Guard – Pacific Theater on an LST ship. Milton married Joan Hammerschmidt in December 1951. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1980, after 33 years of service. Since his retirement, he and Joan traveled extensively throughout the country, spending winters in Hawaii and Arizona, and summers in his beloved Wisconsin north woods or on adventures in Alaska.
Milton spent the past twenty years defying odds and surviving multiple medical challenges, always returning to his beloved family and his workbench to tackle the numerous projects of his life. He loved his wife and daughters, and greeted the steady stream of broken bikes, lamps, and dishes with ingenuity and superglue, and broken hearts with love and compassion. His many grandchildren and great-grandchildren made him smile and he welcomed them all to his world, teaching them how to fish, how to build, and how to face life's adversity with hope, courage, and laughter. Those who knew him loved his sense of humor and respected his honesty, humility and integrity. His kindness was overwhelming and he would drive across the country to retrieve his girls and their treasures from misadventures, or to deliver a hand-made dresser or bookcase from his workshop. He often described his marriage to Joan as a “fairy tale romance,” and loved her until he died peacefully in her arms with his family at his side.
Milton is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joan; five daughters, Billie Garde, Washington, D.C., Bonnie Tullbeg, Milwaukee, Linda (Duane) Bauman, Black Creek, Ellen (Jim) Tingley, Wasilla, AK, and Carol Schuelke, Appleton; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; his sister, Elaine Fredericks, Kimberly; two nieces and many cousins. Milton was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Carlton Fredericks.
Funeral services for Milton will be at NOON on Saturday, September 25, 2010, at ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 912 N. Oneida Street, Appleton, with Rev. Kurt Kovanen officiating. Visitation will be at church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Entombment will be at Highland Memorial Park, Appleton.

Wichmann Funeral Home
Tri-County Chapel
3212 S. Oneida Street
Appleton 831-9905
Online Condolences
www.wichmannfargo.com