West Bend, WI – Albert W. “Tiger” Tennies of West Bend died on Friday, May 23, 2025, at his cottage in Hazelhurst at the age of 89 years. He was born July 5, 1935, in West Bend to the late Ben and Viola (nee Hentz) Tennies.
As a lifelong resident of West Bend, he attended Holy Angels Grade School and went onto graduate from West Bend High School with the Class of 1953.
On November 7, 1953, he was united in marriage to Sally Kell at Holy Angels Catholic Church.
For over 50 years, he worked for his family’s business, Tennies Corporation, Inc. with his son Jeff.
At the age of 18, he became a member of the West Bend Fire Department. He served for 28 years, retiring as an assistant chief. He went on to serve the City of West Bend as an alderman for 14 years and was a member of various city boards. His commitment to community also involved setting up and removal of Christmas decorations throughout downtown West Bend.
He was a member of the Fr. Casper Rehl Council #1964 Knights of Columbus, the Little Rice ATV club, West Bend Builders Association and West Bend Vagabenders. He also volunteered as both a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for many years.
His love of sports was shared through coaching basketball at Holy Angels School and umpiring with the Land O Lakes league. He could also be found playing a round of golf and bowling with a cigar in his mouth.
His love of outdoors was found in camping, deer hunting and spending time at the family cabin enjoying a good old fashioned and a cold beer.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years Sally; 8 children: Deb (Mike) Van Beek of West Bend, Mike (Cindy) of West Bend, Scott (Je’Ette) of Germantown, Mark of West Bend, Pam (Allen) Carter of West Bend, James of Beaver Dam, Randy (Jenny) of West Bend and Melissa (Ernie) of Port Charles, FL; 18 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 1 sister Irene Fechter of FL, 1 brother Herb (Sue) Tennies of West Bend; 1 brother-in-law Jim (Audrey) Kell of West Bend; 3 sisters-in-law Pat Bock of Waukegan, IL, Rita Ruf of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Marilyn Kell of West Bend; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 son Jeff, 1 brother-in-law Robert Kell and 1 sister-in-law Gloria (Karl) Fickler.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 13 from 11 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church with a Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Holy Angels Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Holy Angels School Trust Fund appreciated.
The Schmidt Funeral Home of West Bend is serving the family. Messages for the family may be left in an online guestbook at www.schmidtfuneralhome.com.
Visitation
Friday, June 13, 2025
11:00AM – 1:45PM
Holy Angels Catholic Church
138 N 8th Ave
West Bend, WI 53095
Guaranteed delivery before Albert Tiger’s Visitation begins.
Final Resting Place
Holy Angels Cemetery
775 S Main St
West Bend, WI 53095
West Bend, WI – Following the death over the weekend of Al “Tiger” Tennies we have a salute that was originally published in May 2015 after Tennies stepped off the West Bend Plan Commission. For 60 years Tennies served in one capacity or another and then-Mayor Kraig Sadownikow worked with the common council to thank Tiger for his years of service.
On May 4, 2015, the West Bend Common Council and Mayor Kraig Sadownikow paid tribute to Al ‘Tiger’ Tennies for his years of service to the community.
In 2015, Tennies, 79, stepped off the Plan Commission. Over the years he served on the Public Works Commission, Fire Department and was Dist. 5 alderman from 1982-1998.
“I’ve got 60 years in for the city and that’s enough,” said Tennies, sounding exhausted.
While reflection on the last six decades Tennies rattles off stalwart names like Fire Chief Carl Peters, city clerk Al Hemauer and Mayors Ralph Schoenhaar, John Pick and Don Gonring.
“We had it out with Gonring once in a while,” laughed Tennies about some of his tangles with the mayor.
On Plan Commission, Tennies recalled, there were several memorable issues that ruffled feathers including subdivision development and the removal of the Barton Dam.
“Cripes that was a big argument,” said Tennies. “The DNR convinced us to get rid of it otherwise we’d have to spend over $200,000 to fix it.”
The development of Riverside Park and the creation of the Highway 45 bypass were also hot-button issues that changed the landscape of West Bend.
“Highway 45 went right down Main Street and the traffic was getting too bad,” said Tennies recalling heated discussion. “Old man (Fred) Sager and a couple of those guys were against it, and they fought it for years.” In hindsight, Tennies said, “That was the best thing that could have happened to West Bend.”
Turning to the budget, Tennies let go a deep ‘harrumph.’ “Years ago we had everything in the budget and we never borrowed any money,” he said. In 1988 that changed when the council borrowed for capital projects.
“We never did that before,” said Tennies. “We’d raise taxes a couple cents every year. I remember when I got on the fire department, they had hardly any stuff, but Chief Peters was a go getter with equipment and pretty soon we got an aerial ladder and some four-wheel drives.”
Tennies was 18 years old in 1954 when he started with the Fire Department. “I was there 26 years; my starting wage was 50 cents an hour,” he said.
At the Fire Department Tennies rose from captain to assistant chief. He also served as an EMT on the rescue squad for about 20 years. “I worked the aftermath of the April 4, 1981, tornado,” he said. “The bad part was one of the fireman’s kids got killed,” he said referencing 10-year-old Scott Schlefke, the son of firefighter Ronald Schlefke, and his wife, Catherine.
One of the rallying points for the Fire Department was a June fish fry started by Chief Peters and Harold Mehring, with Mehring’s Fisheree. “Harold would get all the fish, and it was an all-day session cleaning them. We usually went across the street to Hank Huber’s Tavern.
“We went in there once after we bought that new ladder truck and we went in there by Hank Bauer and Carl Peters stood by the door and said, ‘we bought this new fire truck and it didn’t come with a spare tire.’ “They’d ask people if they’d chip in a $1 for a spare tire,” said Tennies. “Good times; those guys were all jokers.”
After 60 years, ‘Tiger’ Tennies also developed a reputation. “I remember Tiger as always being straight forward almost to the point of being blunt on occasion. You always knew where you stood,” said Ken Pesch, West Bend city engineer from 1986 – 1997.
Former city administrator Dennis Melvin started in 1981. “Al was very easy to talk to and he could sit down and have a good conversation about what was happening,” Melvin said. “He genuinely cared about the community.”
Robert Motl was a young whippersnapper of 28 when he was elected to the council in spring 1989. “I figured I would bring a new perspective to the council in contrast to the old stogy guys like Alderman Joe Gates and Al,” he said. “I was pretty surprised to realize how progressive they really were and willing to hear alternative viewpoints.”
Motl said Tennies could ‘frequently see through the malarkey and get to the point pretty quickly.’ “There wasn’t a lot of dancing around,” he said. “He has always been a very knowledgeable guy who is always willing to discuss a topic.”
During Monday’s meeting a proclamation will be presented to Tennies thanking him for his years of service to the city of West Bend.
In November 2020, the following article was published to honor Al and Sally Tennies 67th wedding anniversary. This year the couple would have been married 72 years.
West Bend, WI – Please wish Al and Sally Tennies a happy 67th anniversary. The couple were married Saturday Nov. 7, 1953.
“We just believe it’s important to cherish every milestone going forward and 67 years is amazing,” said daughter Melissa Tennies
Al & Sally Tennies met in high school, became high school sweethearts and got married on November 7, 1953 at Holy Angels Church at 10 in the morning.
After church their driver Webster Tennies whisked them off to Lunch, Dinner and Drinks at the Moose – KC Hall on Sixth Avenue above what was called Carol’s House.
After dinner the reception took place at Laufer’s Roller Rink where lots of dancing and memories took place.
The secret to a long marriage has always been to talk to each other during dinner, have fun and laugh, be friends and grow old together.
Every Love Story is Beautiful, but our Parents is our Favorite
9 Loved Children 804 Months and Countless Memories
18 Amazing Grandchildren 24,455 Days Laughter, Vacations, Good Times, and Endless Smiles, 13 Wonderful Great Grandchildren 586,920 Hours Love Family Forever
35,215,200 Minutes & Counting
ONE BLESSED LIFE!
AL & Sally Tennies Cheers to 67 Years…
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 13, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Holy Angels Parish in West Bend, Wi. More details on the service and visitation will be released shortly.
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