Austin ""Mike"" Buege

Austin Michael “Mike” Buege passed away the evening of Nov. 26. He was born in 1939 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the son of Hattie Heller (Schmidtman) and Charles Austin Buege. Mike met his future wife, Carol Jean Schmitt, in grade school at the age of 8. They married in 1959 while still in college at Western Michigan University. Mike loved the water. He grew up in the family home on First Street in Menominee, Michigan, swimming, fishing, and especially boating in the waters of Lake Michigan at his doorstep. As a boy, he absorbed his father’s interest in Great Lakes ships and marine artwork and, as a result, was a devoted sailor and watercolor artist his entire life, continuing to paint and sketch until shortly before his death. Mike was a salesman for General Mills, Hallmark Cards and 3M. He finished his career in the training department at Paper Converting Machine Company in Green Bay. He was active in various volunteer positions at Ascension Lutheran Church and achieved the rank of Commander in the Green Bay Sail Power Squadrons. Mike and Carol shared a loving marriage lasting 55 years, raising three daughters: Michelle, Karin (Paul) Lanser and Sharon (Jim) Stroschein who survive him, as do his two sisters Barbara Richards and Jennifer (Bill) Blair, granddaughters Hannah and Hattie Lanser, sister-in-law Bonnie Schmitt, and nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Carol and brother-in-laws Dick and Bill Schmitt and Bill Richards. The family extends their gratitude to the staff of Home Instead, Allouez Parkside Village and Unity Hospice for their loving care of Mike. Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 9 from 4-6 pm at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N Webster Avenue, DePere and again on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11:30 am-12:45 pm at Ascension Lutheran Church, 2911 Libal Street, Allouez, followed by a funeral service at 1 pm officiated by Rev. Lori Swenson. Memorials in Mike’s name can be made to the Jackie Nitschke Center, Green Bay (www.jackienitschkecenter.com) or Unity Hospice, DePere (www.unityhospice.org). Full details and on-line condolences are available at: www.cotterfuneralhome.com.

Reception:
Ascension Lutheran Church
2911 Libal Street
Green Bay, WI 54301