Donald John Senzig Jr.

MILWAUKEE - Donald John Senzig Jr., 53, passed away at his home in Milwaukee on Tuesday, July 27, 2004. Born April 13, 1951, in Milwaukee, he was the son of Donald and Adoree (nee: Larson) Senzig of Caledonia. Son-in-law of Ralph and Catherine Dean. He married Dorothy K. Dean on May 6, 1978, in Milwaukee. Donald found the job he loved at Medpacs in Waukesha. He had worked in the Milwaukee Road Enginehouse, Plastic Parts of Union Grove, Siemens Nuclear, Sector Engineering, Compuware, private consulting, and Milwaukee Area Television Access (MATA). In these diverse jobs, Don consistently demonstrated his natural ability and immense capacity to troubleshoot and repair anything that moved, whirred, or lit up. At a young age, Don learned to repair TV's and electronics working with his father, Donald Senzig Sr. He repaired TV's as a hobby, but in 1968 while a student at Case High School, he programmed a timeshare computer and provided creative technical support for a number of challenging theatrical performances. In 1975, Don built his first computer from an Altair 8800 kit. How much fun it was to play "kill the bit." At the start of the personal computer revolution, Don arranged the first computer/gaming exhibition at a local Science Fiction Convention. A genius at electronics and computers, Don was always ready to help people learn and to learn from them. One of his favorite collaborators was Dorothy. Don helped authors and Democratic candidates learn how to use computers. With incredible patience, Don could help them achieve goals that they did not believe possible. In 1975, Don helped found the Wisconsin Computing Society that still meets helping members explore computer technology. He leaves to mourn the wife he loved so much; mother, Adoree Senzig; sister, Vickie (Robert) Elliott of Caledonia; brother, Robert (Barbara) of Germantown; sister, Rita (Eddie) Higbee of Puyallup, Wash.; sister, Susan (Charles) Malone of Oak Creek; brother, Walter (Christine) of South Milwaukee; sister, Maggie of Racine; brother, Jon (Wendy) of Racine; sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Jeff) Fredrickson of Grand Rapids, Mich.; brother-in-law, John (Jane) Dean of Grand Rapids, Mich.; sister-in-law, Mary Dean (Will Hughstead) of Lexington, Mass.; sister-in-law, Patricia (Steve) Zimmer of Belmont, Mich.; brother-in-law, Mike (Cindy) Dean of Holland, Mich.; brother-in-law, Dennis (Rosina) Dean of Joliet, Ill.; grandmother, Opal Larson of Mauston; 18 nieces; five great-nieces; 16 nephews; one great-nephew; and many uncles, cousins and friends. Preceded in death by his father, Donald John Senzig Sr.; and nephew, Jonathan Mutchie. Visitation at the funeral home on Friday, July 30, 2004, from 5 until 8 p.m. Also, visitation Saturday, July 31, 2004, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 13207 County G, Caledonia (Highway G and I-94), from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment at St. Louis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Milwaukee Public Theater, 626 East Kilbourn, Suite 802, Milwaukee, Wis. 53202. SCHMIDT AND BARTELT Funeral and Cremation Services 10121 West North Avenue Wauwatosa 414-774-5010