Robert J. Weninger, 86, of Brownsville, passed away at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, with his family at his side.
Robert was born on July 1, 1930, at home in the Township of Lomira, the son of the late Jacob and Lucy (Oechsner) Weninger. On June 25, 2005, he was united in marriage to MariaPilar SanDiego at St. Martins Catholic Church in Ashford.
Robert was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lomira and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Fr. Michael J. McGivney and the Bintzler-Waehler American Legion Post 347 in Lomira. Bob served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1956. Robert led a life of service, adventure, and generosity. He volunteered for various catholic organizations for 25 plus years including Papal Volunteers for Latin America and Wings of Hope as a lead pilot setting up missionary outposts for various Catholic orders.
After his service in the U.S Air Force, Robert obtained his commercial pilots license and worked as a corporate pilot for Kiekhaefer Mercury in Fond du Lac; subsequently answering the call for Catholic Lay Missionary service. In addition to his volunteer service, he ferried aircraft to Central and South America for the Cessna Corporation, worked on the Pan-American Highway and the Alaskan Pipeline. Later in life, he settled on the family farm to become a farmer. In addition to his generosity of spirit, his other passion in life including restoring John Deere tractors and farm implements.
Those Robert leaves behind to cherish his memory include his wife, MariaPilar; three step-children, Mae (Joemar) Ricarze, Joanne Bayana, and Jaypee (Joan) Bayana; two brothers, Michael (Rosemary) Weninger of VanDyne and George (Mary Ann) Weninger of Thorp; two sisters, Elizabeth Beck of Bettendorf, Iowa and Lucille Nowakoski of Milwaukee; two brothers-in-law, Richard Feucht and LeRoy Ritger; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth (Eva) Weninger, Cornelius Weninger and Rodger Weninger; four sisters, Mary Weninger, Imelda Ritger, Caroline (Jerome) Emmer, and Margaret Feucht; a brother-in-law, Robert Nowakoski.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert will be held at Noon on Saturday, September 3, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lomira. Rev. Michael Petersen will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery.
Robert’s family will greet relatives and friends at the Kietzer-Miller Funeral Home in Lomira on Friday, September 2, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lomira on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or Wings of Hope are appreciated.