Milton Bielinski

Milton “Milty” “Turk” Bielinski, age 85, of Denmark, was reunited with his wife, Gail, on December 23, 2024. The son of the late Walter and Clara (Sladkey) Bielinski was born on January 25, 1939. Milty graduated from Denmark High School and on December 20, 1975, he married the love of his life, Gail (Schmoock), and she preceded him in death in 2011.

Milty has owned and operated Bielinski Excavating in Denmark since 1982. He and Gail also built the Cedar Ridge Restaurant in October of 1988 and operated it until June of 2006. Prior to Gail’s passing, the couple was instrumental in the starting of the DeGrand Family Restaurant. Aside from his business accomplishments, Milty had a long and distinguished history of community involvement, including: serving as Denmark Village Trustee from June 2, 1965 until July 20, 1970 before being nominated president on that date and serving until July 6, 1982. He then served as trustee again from May 6, 2013 until June 4, 2018. Milty was a recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award in Denmark, and was active in the Denmark Lions, also assisting with many events with the Maribel Lions as well, the Denmark Community and Business Alliance, and was very supportive of the formation of Viking Rescue Service and was President of the non-profit housing association, also known as Danish Villa, for 50 years. 

In his spare time, Milty fostered a love of animals, enjoyed supporting the local polka scene, and was a frequent listener of Polka, Polka, Polka. 

Milty is survived by his children: Kelley (Todd) DeGrand, Kari (Joe) Schaefer, Jennifer Bielinski, Charlene Rabenhorst; grandchildren: Sandra (Brian) Heezen, Owen and Ellah DeGrand, Hailey Brouchard (who always called him “Grandpa Restaurant”); siblings: Jim (Mary Jo) Bielinski and Pat Buresh; in-laws: Paul Schmoock Jr., Diane Tisler, Karen Rezek, Pat Gesser and Fran Schmoock. He is further survived by children Steve Bielinski and Melissa Bielinski; grandchildren: Heather, Jasmine, Jared, Sabrina and Skyla Bielinski. Additional survivors include the Bielinski Excavating, Cedar Ridge and DeGrand Family Restaurant Families. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Clara; parents-in-law Paul Sr. and Anita Schmoock; son-in-law Todd Rabenhorst; granddaughter Alexis Rabenhorst; in-laws: Bernie Buresh, Ken Tisler Sr., Ursula Schmoock. Mary Schmoock, Judy Strohfeldt, Tom Gesser, Bill Schmoock and Donny Rezek; nieces and nephews: Paul Schmoock III, Michelle Schmoock, David Schmoock and Landon Bielinski. 

Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home- Denmark Chapel (536 County Road R) on Friday, December 27, from 3-7pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday at All Saints Catholic Church in Denmark (145 St. Claude Street), from 9:30am until 10:30am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Fr. Bill O’Brien officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Curran Spirituality Center, E461 County Road KB, Denmark, WI 54208.

Our family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay and County Rescue, as well as Leslie Tenor for their compassionate care.