Wesley R. “Wes” Blumenberg of Port Washington, Wisconsin passed away Friday, April 1, 2022 surrounded by his family. He was 94 years old.

Born on January 7, 1928, Wes was the youngest child of former Port Washington Police Chief Otto Blumenberg and Julia Hazelbarth Blumenberg.

Wes was drafted into the US Army in 1949 and served in the Korean War as a Corporal with the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. He returned to Port Washington after his service and began working as a boiler operator at the local Wisconsin Electric power plant until retirement.

On June 5, 1954, Wes was united in marriage to Mary Jane Hinsenkamp of West Bend. Together they raised their four children in the house they built in the Schanen Acres subdivision. Although Mary preceded him in death in 2006, Wes was blessed to live out his years in his home with help from family and especially his son Jay.

Wes enjoyed rituals, especially in the company of family, friends and neighbors. Sundays were an open invitation for his children and grandchildren to join him in solving the crossword over strong coffee and baked pastries. Visitors could expect to leave his home with a souvenir—be it a bag of apples, fresh cheese curds or reading material. Wes subscribed to numerous periodicals and continued to nurture his mind throughout life.

He touted the healing power of natural remedies, offering a nip of his cure-all, Underberg digestive bitters, for whatever ailed you at the time. He loved big band music, the NFL and collegiate sports, tending to his houseplants and backyard vegetable garden and, of course, his 2 o’clock pilsner with a handful of peanuts.

Those left to cherish his memory include Wes’s daughter Ann (Al) Augustin of Port Washington, WI, sons Jay of Port Washington, WI, Mark (Beth) of Wauwatosa, WI, and Brian (Kathy) Neenah, WI. He is further survived by his grandchildren Kate, Megan, Logan, Molly, Matt and Dylan, and great granddaughters Evelyn and Julia, other relatives and friends.

Wes is preceded in death by his wife Mary Blumenberg, parents Otto and Julia Blumenberg, brother Russell Blumenberg, sister-in-law Eileen Blumenberg, sister Marilyn “Molly” Greiveldinger, brother-in-law Harold Greiveldinger, brother-in-law Herb Hinsenkamp, sister-in-law Jane Hinsenkamp, and grandson Nick Blumenberg.

The family will receive visitors at Poole Funeral Home, 203 North Wisconsin Street in Port Washington, WI on Saturday, April 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Service at the funeral home will begin at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow. Interment St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington, WI.

Wes’s family is forever grateful for the example he set as a man of gentleness and compassion. If desired, honorary memorials are suggested to Community Education Foundation of Port Washington-Saukville (https://www.porthighscholarship.org) or Ozaukee Family Services (http://ozaukeefamilyservices.org).

Wes’s 2015 interview with nephew Tom Blumenberg for the Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

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4 Comments

  1. I worked with Wes at the Port Washington Power Plant. He was a very Good Control Operator and more importantly he was a Kind and a Friendly man. He liked to show new employees like myself not only how the equipment worked but how to do certain jobs better. He was always looking to improve things. He also had a good sense of humor. My deepest condolences to his Family on his passing, he is a very good man.

  2. I’m sorry for your loss. It sounds like he loved his family and friends.

  3. Jack Thorne wrote “Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch.”
    Memories of loved ones lost are such a blessing.

    My deepest condolences for your loss. Wes was a sweet man.

  4. Our condolence to the Blumenberg Family. Wesley was a good friend of my parents, Joe and Mildred Shores when they lived across the street from them.

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