William "Bill"

R. Hartwig Ii

William R. "Bill" Hartwig II, 91, of Lake Mills, died on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Lilac Springs.

He was born on December 18, 1932, in Lake Mills, the son of the late William Sr. and Ruth (Koplin) Hartwig.

He was a graduate of the Lake Mills High School, Class of 1951. He enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean War at Great Lake, IL and served until discharged in 1955. He served almost all of his 4 years attached to sea duty serving on the USS Kaskaskia AO-27 and the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany CVA-34. He advanced to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and serviced in the inactive Navy Reserve for 16 years.

In 1956 Bill attended the Madison Technical School for 2 years completing courses in civil engineering. He was employed at an engineering firm in Madison for 28 years and received his State of Wisconsin Land Surveyor License in 1973 and his Certified Soil Tester License in 1974. He worked for Wisconsin Electric Company as an engineering technician in the Watertown and Fort Atkinson area for 11 years, retiring in 1995. He attended the MATC in Madison after which he received his State of Wisconsin Real Estate Appraiser License and Home Inspection Certificate.

He served as the Superintendent of the Rock Lake Cemetery for over 20 years.

He was a member of the Lake Mills Moravian Church and had ushered for the church for over 45 years and was still ushering until 2020 (pandemic). He also served on the Board of Trustees.

He was a 50-year member of the American Legion Post 67. Served as Post Commander, was a member of the firing squad, member of the 40&8 Local 750. Was a member of the Zor Sahara Shrine of Madison, and Free and Accepted Mason of Wisconsin. Served on the Lake Mills Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Review for over 30 years. He designed and helped construct the brick pad for the American Legion memorial in the city park.

Bill had many interests, cars, stock car racing, Green Bay Packers, Badgers, hunting, fishing, bowling with a 700 series. He liked to dance and was a member of a dance club. He camped at his trailer at Little Silver Lake in Wild Rose for over 40 years. He was a part-time carpenter and designer and managed the construction of the home he lived in. No home improvement was too large.

He married Dorothy Lehman on December 19, 1959, at the Calvary Memorial Church in Racine, Wisconsin. She died in 2022.

Bill is survived by children, Sherry (Lee) Samudio of Fort Wayne, IN, Kurt Hartwig of Lake Mills, Peggy Hartwig of Wauwatosa; their grandchildren, Alcario (Jennifer) Samudio with children Nikos, Miabella; Melissa (Ryan) Stark with children Levi, Brayden and Daxten; Alex (Mandy)Samudio with children Zander and Leo; William (Megan) Hartwig with Jordan; Amanda Hartwig with children Elexis, Riley, and Oliver; Brett (Brooke) Samudio with daughter Olivia; sisters, Gerane Yandre of Lake Mills and Karen Kisow of Lake Mills.

He was also preceded in death by his son William Hartwig III; sisters Nancy Hein, Janet Hartwig and Mary Jensen; one granddaughter Miranda Samudio; baby grandson Brantley Stark

Memorial services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Lake Mills Moravian Church.

Friends may call after 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church until the time of services.

Burial with Military Graveside Honors will be in Rock Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to the church or the Lake Mills American Legion Post #67.

www.claussenfuneralhome.com