Michael A. Loehrke

Michael Loehrke, age 66, passed away peacefully at his home on November 7, 2021, surrounded by his family, after a 3-year battle with cancer. He was born April 10, 1955, in Appleton, WI, the son of the late Eldor and Eileen (Anthony) Loehrke.

Mike graduated from Weyauwega high school in 1974 and left for Alaska to work on the pipeline in December of the same year. He flew back to Wisconsin and married Nancy on Flag Day (June 14, 1975). They left for Alaska that same weekend to start their adventure and lived in various states as Mike’s work on the pipeline continued.

Mike and Nancy eventually settled back to Winchester. For the next 13 years, they worked together with their young family of 6 to run the Loehrke farm market. Mike later worked in the paper mills for 25 years.

Mike was a farmer at heart who loved nature and thoroughly enjoyed helping others whenever he could. On days off of work, Mike could be found playing cards — usually Sheepshead — or helping out local farmers or his farmer friends. He loved to drive tractor and truck during spring planting and fall harvest. Mike especially loved to hunt deer, geese, and turkeys. He leaves behind a legacy of service, adventure, and a passion for leaving the land in better shape than he found it.

Mike is survived by his two sons, Justin (Katie) Loehrke, Neenah, and Michael Loehrke Jr. Larsen; daughters, Melanie (John) Lendosky, Viroqua, WI and Kerry (Chad) Forrest, Larsen; brothers Bill (Ann) Loehrke, Appleton, and Bob Loehrke, Appleton; sister Vicki (Ken) Koerner; mother-in-law: Lillian Wendt; 10 grandchildren, McKenna, Braden, Kevin, Cody, Nicole, Abby, Samantha, Hazel, Maddox, and Ian.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Nancy (Behm) Loehrke, parents, Eldor and Eileen Loehrke, brother Kelvin Loehrke, step father-in-law Leslie Wendt, and father-in-law Arlyn Behm.

Visitation will be held on Thursday at Maple Crest Funeral Home in Waupaca from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021, at 11 a.m. (visitation starting at 10 a.m at Zion Lutheran Church E9016 Marsh Rd. Fremont, with Rev. Doug Reinders officiating. Burial will be in Concordia Cemetery in West Bloomfield at a later date.

A memorial fund has been established. Special thanks goes to Theda Care Hospice, especially Jolene, Nicole, and Roberta, for their exceptional care of our dad.

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