Arthur Guenther

Arthur “Art” Guenther
Owner of Just Art’s Saloon on Second Street, died unexpectedly of natural causes on August 14, 2025.

Art was born on April 27, 1945, to Arthur and Alice. He was his father's namesake and had one older brother, Ronald (Anita), stepmother Audrey, and three younger siblings, Mary (Mike), Paul (Julie), and Patrick-his only surviving sibling. He is survived by nieces and nephews Jill (Bob), Jennifer (Mike), Ryan, Katie (Freddy), Nick, Ron, Kiya (Fred), Jereme, and Riley; as well as Grand nieces and nephews Ashley (Kyle), Sarah, Lindsey, Elizabeth, Logan, Molly, Bianca, Breanna, and Maria; and of course patrons and friends who became family over the years.

For decades, Art poured his heart into Just Art’s, transforming it from a neighborhood bar into a true gathering place. Everyone who walked through the door - whether a regular who stopped by daily, a young person celebrating a first night out, or a traveler discovering Milwaukee - was welcomed as if they were family. Art’s presence behind the bar was as steady as it was comforting; he knew names, remembered stories, and always made sure no one left without hearing one of his famous jokes or shaking a game (or 10) of bar dice with him.

His establishment became a cornerstone of the community (truly the last of its kind) - not just a place to grab a drink, but a space where friendships were built, milestones celebrated, and stories made. Art’s sense of humor was legendary - sharp and witty.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 734 Glenview Avenue, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Tuesday, September 2nd at 1 PM with visitation beginning at 10 AM.

Though the doors of Just Art’s have now been closed, the spirit Art created there - the community, the laughter, the sense of belonging throughout the years - will never fade. His life reminds us that sometimes the simplest gifts - a smile, a drink, a listening ear - are the ones that stay with us the longest.