Arthur C. Hinzpeter

Hinzpeter, Arthur C. Age 101, of Lake Geneva. Died Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Lakeland Health Care Center, Elkhorn. Art was born October 28, 1909, in Lake Geneva, to Henry and Dorothea Hinzpeter. He was united in marriage to his wife Dona (Middleton) on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1937 at United Methodist Church in Burlington. Art and Dona were blessed with two children, five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Art was a life-long resident of Lake Geneva. He graduated from Lake Geneva High School in 1928 and attended Janesville Business School. Art worked as a meat cutter at the Geneva Food Mart for three different owners before purchasing the store. He spent his career as a grocer and proud independent businessman. Art enjoyed meeting and serving the residents of Lake Geneva and formed many close relationships with his employees and customers over the years. Art's wife, Dona and son Ron also worked at the store. Art and Dona spent their married life in a home in Lake Geneva and raised their two children there. Art and Dona happily housed their children and grandchildren for many summer days and nights throughout the years. Art lived independently in his home up until a few months before his death. Art and Dona cultivated a beautiful rose garden at their home and the multiple varieties and colors of roses bloom every spring and last through December. Art even worked in his rose garden the last summer before his death. Art was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council and acted as Treasurer. Art's greatest joy and priority was his family. He deeply loved his wife Dona, to whom he was married for 65 years before her death in 2002. Art and Dona enjoyed an active social life, going out most evenings, well into their eighties. (They would take a night off on Mondays, which they referred to as "popcorn night.") He also took great pride and happiness in the accomplishments of his children, their spouses and his grandchildren. His smile was always extra big around his great-grand-children. Art enjoyed a huge celebration in honor of his 100th birthday and appreciated the family and friends who came from near and far to wish him well. Art loved Wisconsin sports, but especially loved to follow the Milwaukee Brewers. He also loved to fish, in both the summer and winter, and cherished the time he spent with his family on the water. Art also looked forward to his regular breakfasts at Grandma Vickie's Cafe, where he was treated more like a friend than a customer. Art is survived by his daughter, Penny (Don) Hallett of Delavan Lake and his son Ronald (Jo Anne) Hinzpeter of Milwaukee; his grandchildren Cheri (Jerome) Bump of Ft. Atkinson, Kari (Matthew) Hampton of Boring, OR, Michael (Ingrid) Hallett of Woodbury, MN, Bradley Hinzpeter and Guy Hinzpeter, both of Milwaukee. Art has ten great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Kaitlyn and Benjamin Dresdow of Ft. Atkinson, Johanna and Alaina Hampton of Boring, OR, Leah and Davis Hallett of Woodbury, MN and Jordan, Carter and Paige Hinzpeter of Milwaukee. He was predeceased by his wife, parents and brothers Clarence, Harold and Warren. Words cannot express how greatly he will be missed, but the values he taught us will live on forever. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Monday, March 28, 2011 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lake Geneva. Pastors Mary Ann and Mark Moller-Gunderson will officiate. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 27 from 4 PM until 7 PM at Steinke Funeral Home. Memorials preferred to the WC Resource Center and Food Pantry, 101 Terrace Drive, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 or Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1229 Park Row, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. Steinke Funeral Home is serving the family.