Mark F. Vetter

1946 - 2014

Vetter, Mark F. Passed away peacefully on January 18, 2014, after an extended but well-fought battle with cancer, at the age of 68. Mark was the beloved husband of Nancy (nee Weber), and loving, devoted father of Christopher (Jamie) Vetter and Laurie (Chad) Lehman. He was a very proud, involved grandfather and "Papa" to Kaitlyn, Austin and Michael. Mark is also survived by his siblings Steve (Alyssa), Rick, Greg, John (Jenni) Vetter and Julie (Ken) Podpeskar. He was the consummate family man, husband, father and friend, and will be well remembered and dearly missed by all who knew him. Mark had an incredibly positive influence on many people he encountered throughout his life and was always willing to lend a hand to those in need, whether personally or professionally. Mark was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 17, 1946. He graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Mark attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania where he played football on an athletic scholarship and was fortunate to meet his wife Nancy. After graduation in 1968, he was accepted to the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. After a year on the USS Polk County, he spent the remainder of his military service in Yokosuka, Japan at the Communication's Station. Upon his return from Japan, Mark attended Marquette University Law School and graduated with his Juris Doctorate degree in 1974. Mark enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the field of law. He spent most of his career at Davis & Kuelthau, where he was managing partner until he left in 2010 to found his own law firm, Buelow-Vetter, from which he retired in 2012. Mark was well-known and highly respected in the legal community as a trusted mentor and an expert in the area of Labor and Employment law. He was a Past President of the Labor Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, a Past Management Co-Chair of the State and Local Government Bargaining & Employment Law Committee of the Labor and Employment Section with the ABA, and a Past President and Board Member of the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association. Mark had many special achievements in his career. Among them, he was named to Best Lawyers in America numerous times, and in 2013, was the ABA's Arvid Anderson Public Sector Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year. Mark was also on the Board of Advisors for the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School. One of Mark's greatest passions in life was the game of golf. He enjoyed playing it as often as possible, anytime and anywhere. He especially enjoyed playing while vacationing in Scotland and Ireland. Mark was an active member and a Past President at Bluemound Country Club. He also Co-Chaired the 2010 Western Junior Tournament and the 2011 U.S. Amateur Golf Tournament. The family would like to thank all of Mark's physicians and caregivers at Froedtert Hospital and at Zilber Family Hospice for their kind, compassionate and professional care throughout Mark's illness. Our many thanks go out to all of the friends and family who provided loving support during Mark's valiant battle with cancer. Visitation will be held at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 22 from 4:30-7:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 23 at 11:00 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 1755 N. Calhoun Road, Brookfield. There will be a private family burial at Southeast Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John Vianney Catholic Church or to MCW Cancer Center - The Triumph Fund (Medical College Wisconsin Office of Development, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, MIlwaukee, WI 53226, please include Mark's name).