August "Gus" F. Semanek

In Loving Memory of August (“Gus”) Felix Semanek

Gus Semanek, age 90, of Milwaukee, WI passed away peacefully with family by his side on May 14th, 2024.  

Gus was the youngest of 6 children (John, Anthony, Helen (Horn), Katie (Ahrens), Anna (Weber) born to Andrew and Agnes Semanek in 1933 in Milwaukee, WI.

He graduated “Cum Laude" from North Division High School in 1952 and then went onto the GM Institute in Flint, MI for Mechanical Engineering from 1952-1954.

After his time at the GM Institute, Gus served our country by entering the Army in June of 1954. He received a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.  He ended his military career with an SP/3 Rank and was honorably discharged in 1956. His time spent in Alaska was one of his fondest memories of his time served. 

After the Army, he happened to go out with some friends to the Eagles Ballroom (which is now known as “The Rave” in downtown Milwaukee) and ended up meeting the love of his life, Judith Czarnecki.   Gus stole her heart and she ended up marrying the man she truly loved and was meant to be with on May 2, 1959.

Gus and Judy went on to have 8 children in total.  Paul (Mary Sue Wenzel), Philip, Peter (Shelley Johnson), Stephen, Susan Como (Aaron), Andrea Zimmer (John), Jennifer Riedner (Brady) and David Charles, who sadly passed away at less than one week of age. In addition, he was blessed with 10 grandchildren (Brian, Michael, Sarah, Daniel, MaryAnnah, Sommer, Joey, Jack, Peyton and Claire) and 3 Great Grandchildren (Nora, Lilly, and Grayson). He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Gus worked at Sterling Inc. as a Product Design Engineer and then at Jorgensen Conveyors as an Engineering Design Supervisor where he also helped mentor young Engineering students through Internships there. 

All seven of his children mourn the loss of their loving father but have boundless love and gratitude for the many years they were blessed to spend together.   There are so many cherished memories but some that come to mind are the mornings with him joyfully coming down the stairs singing and his workdays ending with him coming home with a smile welcoming us kids into his open arms after announcing that “Dad’s Home” as we all came running to greet him.  He was very proud of his Slovakian heritage, and we attended the annual Slovak picnic for many years where he got to polka, another thing he loved to do.  There were endless trips to the library, reading us bedtime stories, and singing us to sleep.   Annual trips to Northern Wisconsin were also a highlight where he could spend time with us fishing all day.   He worked so hard all of his life, yet still found the time after a long day of work to spend with his family and take on his unofficial second job as the family Chauffeur.  Judy did not drive, so it was all on him to provide the transportation for all of his kids’ needs and no matter the time of day or night, he was always there to drop us off and pick us up.

Gus could definitely be serious when it was necessary and for a very mild-mannered, easy-going person, when he was upset, you would hear it in his voice and know it was time to settle down and behave.  All he had to do was raise his voice and we all would fall in line. For the most part, however, he was lighthearted and full of joy.  He was a very proud family man who never complained and made his family his top priority.  He also was known to be quite frugal, which led him to be nicknamed “Piggy”.  His frugality came from having to support a family of Nine on one income and because he kept a very close watch on the family finances, the name stuck, and we all had fun joking with him about it.   He was kind, loving, easy going, joyful and so silly. His eyes and smile always lit up the room. He told the dumbest Dad jokes and was always humming or singing some silly little tune.  He was blessed with both left and right brain talent, as he was very knowledgeable in math and science, but also an extremely gifted artist who could draw beautifully.  He also had the most perfect penmanship and took so long to sign his name because it had to be just right.

He loved watching the Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers and also playing Gin Rummy with our Grandma Czarnecki and us. He had no problem gloating over his numerous victories against us. He enjoyed spending time in the garden making it “just so” for Mom. He adored his kids even with all of the trouble we gave him, and he always did everything he could to make Mom feel loved.

Gus and Judy had to say goodbye to their family home in Wauwatosa in 2019 due to both of their advancing dementia. 

The last 5 years of his life were spent with Judy at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus in Milwaukee. Although it was sad that he was not able to have his last days at the home he loved, it brought us great peace seeing our dad’s interactions with the staff and hearing endless stories from the Aides that cared for him in his final days. The stories they told were of a singing, smiling, dancing, hugging, fun man who all could tell how much he loved his wife.  The Staff cried with us, hugged us, and even came in on their day off to see him before he passed. What comfort it brought us knowing he was cared for and loved and that our mom will continue to be cared for now that he is gone.  Our gratitude goes out to each and every Aide, Nurse and Caregiver at St. Anne’s who cared for our dad over the years. You are truly so special.

Finally, we thank you Dad for all you gave us and for the amazing Husband and Father you were. You will always be loved and never forgotten.

A visitation will be held at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus, 3800 N. 92nd St. in Milwaukee, WI on 5/31/24 from 11:30-1:00 PM with mass at 1:00 PM followed by Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7301 W. Nash St, Milwaukee, WI at 2:30 PM.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in August’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at Alzheimer's Association | Donate to Fight Alzheimer's Disease.

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