OBITUARY: Robert George Krizenesky
Robert George Krizenesky, age 82 of Rhinelander, died Sunday, July 3, 2016. He was born in Brillion, Wisc. to George and Elsie Krizenesky. He graduated from Sheboygan Central High School in 1952 and then joined the United States Air Force. Robert worked with radars on military planes and was stationed stateside as well as in Germany. When he finished his tour of duty, Robert attended the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point and earned a B.S. in secondary education specializing in biology and conservation. He then continued his education and graduated with an M.A. from Northern Michigan University.
Robert loved the Northwoods and was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed musky fishing. During the summer, he worked at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Robert also worked as a chef at Dolhun’s Resort & Supper Club and met his beloved wife, Woodruff native Cynthia Stieg who also worked there.
The two married on June 13, 1960 the day after her college graduation. They moved to Stevens Point and welcomed their first son, John Allan and then moved to the U.P. during Robert’s master’s studies. After graduation, Robert taught high school sciences for four years in Calumet, Mich., three years in Tomahawk and 21 years in Rhinelander before he retired in 1990. Many former students have shared favorite “Mr. K stories” and have said Robert brought science to life with easy-going personality and unique lessons.
Robert and his family lived on Crescent Lake and he enjoyed spending countless hours fishing. He enjoyed sitting by his lakeside window reading the paper to catch up on Wisconsin college and professional sports while enjoying a cup of coffee. Robert enjoyed all four seasons, and looked forward to gun deer hunting and ice fishing as much as open water fishing. Robert collected antique fishing lures over the years and manufactured the “Musk-A-Luck” lure with his younger brother Allan.
He was a board member of Bill’s Musky Club, and a lifetime member of the National Fishing Lure Collector’s Club (NFLCC). Robert and his family traveled the country for annual national and regional NFLCC shows to display, collect and purchase lures. He made a lot of friends at these shows and looked forward to taking his family on these memorable road trip vacations.
Robert was known for his friendly smile, generous nature and his love of faith and family. He and his family were long-time members of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, but enjoyed traveling around the area for services at other Catholic parishes.
Robert loved listening to polka music, playing sheepshead, German food, a traditional fish fry and tasty Wisconsin brats filled with sauerkraut. He was known to family as having a “sweet tooth” and loved chocolate malts, butter pecan ice cream, and his mother’s baked treats. Robert found great joy teaching his granddaughters about birds and fish and cherished all their countless hugs, kisses and pictures. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, former colleagues, students, fishing buddies and lure collectors both near and far.
Robert is survived by his son, Tom, daughter-in-law, Asavari; twin granddaughters, Audrina and Amiya; brothers, Allan (Donna) and John (Marilyn); sisters, Rosemary and Betty (Rod); step-father, Hank Dassow; step-brother, Del Dassow (Shirley); step-sisters, Jane Oakley and Verna (Walter) Shelk and many cousins and other family members. He is preceded in death by his son, John, wife Cynthia, step-brother, Lamont Dassow and step-sister, Sharon Bartzen.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 9 at Nativity of Our Lord Parish (South) in Rhinelander with Father Randy Knauf officiating. Interment will take place at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Cemetery along with military honors conducted by the Ray Rousseau V.F.W. Post 3143, Rhinelander and two representatives from the U.S. Air Force. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 8 at Hildebrand-Russ Funeral Home in Rhinelander and again from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. (Hildebrand Russ Funeral Home)
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