William E. "Bill" Krenger

William E. "Bill" Krenger, age 83 of Shawano, passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon, July 11, 2025, at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.

Bill was born June 18, 1942, in Shawano, a son of the late Edward "Shorty" and Margaret (Degan) Krenger. He attended school in Shawano, graduating with the Class of 1960, where he was an accomplished athlete participating in football, basketball, and baseball. Following high school, Bill attended UW-Whitewater where he earned his bachelor's degree in business education.

On June 20, 1964, he was united in marriage to the former Bonnie Stoehr at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church in Gresham. The couple recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. Following their marriage the couple returned to Whitewater where Bill finished his final semester of college. Upon graduating, Bill accepted a teaching position at Southern Door High School where he taught business education and coached football for several years.

Following his father's death, Bill and Bonnie returned to Shawano to run the family business, Super Center Krenger's Sinclair. Bill later took a position as manager of K&G Sporting Goods in Shawano. After K&G closed, he and Bonnie's cousin, Terry Wiegand, opened the Jock Shop. Bill owned and operated the Jock Shop until retiring in 2008. Bill is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano.

Bill's community was especially important to him as was evident with his community involvement. He served as president of Shawano Little League and Shawano Babe Ruth. Bill also served as president of the Shawano Lobos baseball team, which he helped to establish, and served on their Board of Directors until his passing. His love of baseball inspired him to coach both Shawano Little League and Shawano Babe Ruth baseball. Bill was a founding member of the Shawano High School Booster Club, established in 1970. He was an officer on the Board of Directors, and served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Bill was inducted into the Shawano High School Hall of Fame, and in 2016 the baseball diamond at Martzke Park was dedicated to him. The diamond is now known as Bill Krenger Field. Bill was a member of the Shawano Park & Recreation Commission for over twenty years. He was passionate about his family and cherished taking his granddaughters to the Shawano County Fair, or as they referred to it, "Grandpa's fair." He was an avid golfer and sports fan.

Survivors include his loving wife, Bonnie, of Shawano; his three children, Kathy (Greg) Guenther of Wausau, Kristie (Tim) Brusoe of Arkansaw, WI, and Jim Krenger of Shawano; his granddaughters, Courtney (Mitch) Steinke, Alex (Nate) Berg, Megan (Scott) Jenniges, Emily (Taylor Penn) Guenther, and Lauren (Clay Kees) Brusoe; great-grandsons, Liam, Harrison, Calvin, and Jack with another grandson due in August. He is further survived by his in-laws, Judie Wendt, Bob (Kathy) Stoehr, Chuck (Joan) Stoehr, Mike (Patti) Stoehr, and Chris Nicolaison; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Donalda (Kat) Kassube, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Meta Stoehr.

A Funeral Mass for Bill will be celebrated on Friday, July 18, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano. Fr. Edward Looney will be the Celebrant. Inurnment will take place at the Sacred Heart Mausoleum. Visitation will begin at the church at 9:30 am and continue until the time of Mass.

In lieu of flowers and plants, the family prefers memorials in Bill's name to the Shawano Sports Booster Club.