Eugene Thomas Kittredge

Eugene Thomas Kittredge, of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025, at the age of 79. He was reunited in Heaven with his parents, John and Grace (Gintz) Kittredge, and his grandchildren, Conor Kittredge, Allison Strahlendorf, and Tyler Kittredge.

Eugene is survived by his sister, Barbara (Jeffrey) Joseph; his former wife but lifelong friend, Sheron Kittredge (Jim Toson) ; and his children: Eugene (Raquel) Kittredge, Lisa (Jeff) Schwigel, John (Wendy) Kittredge, Holly Kittredge (Nic Ehr), and Travis Kittredge (Dee Duke). He was a devoted grandfather to 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly. Eugene is also survived by his long-time companion, Donna Koepp, who remained faithfully by his side till the end. Eugene is further survived by nieces and nephews and many friends and acquaintances.

Eugene began his working life as a teenager at the family’s business, Kitt’s Frozen Custard, a well-known drive-in custard stand in Milwaukee. After Eugene married his high school sweetheart-Sherry, he left Kitt’s and tried other trades where he gained machining experience at Master Lock and then construction for Milwaukee County. But after realizing he didn’t care for that work he returned to the family business, working alongside his father learning the business from the ground up and eventually taking ownership when his father retired in 1983. Eugene became the third and final generation of the founding family to operate the restaurant, which became an iconic Milwaukee establishment under the family’s ownership.

Eugene enjoyed many hobbies. He loved fishing, boating, hunting and being Up North with his family. He loved to share his up north memories of fishing with his dad and friends at North Twin Lake. Eugene had a passion for classic cars and loved going to car shows. But he will be best remembered for his love of the oldies, his bellowing voice on car rides and getting out on the dance floor. Eugene loved the past; he loved the time he spent growing up as a kid and shared endless stories about those days. He had a memory for details and his stories just took you to that place and time he was sharing. He wanted people to smile and be happy and he often shared the stories of his childhood best friends, that were lost in the war, he felt in a way that he needed to be happy and at times live for them, to make their sacrifice personal to him. Eugene reflected a spirit of thankfulness and humbleness and lived each day to the fullest, with great appreciation for life.

Eugene will be remembered for his dedication to family, his never-ending jokes, his bellowing voice when singing to the oldies, and the loudest clanks of the cow bell during the Brewer Games. His legacy lives on in the hearts of those he loved and all who had the privilege to get to know him.

A public visitation will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home, 1315 W. Washington St., West Bend, WI 53095, from 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 Noon. A private family procession will follow to Peace Cemetery, State Road 28, Kewaskum, Wisconsin.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be announced later.

Eugene had a significant interest in the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, inspired by a multi-year ancestry research project, by Jeff Schwigel, of the Kittredge family, dating back to England 1560. Contributions to the Society as a memorial to Eugene would be appreciated. Going to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants online will take you to “ways to give.” Heartfelt thanks from the Kittredge family.