Max Dolor Wiltzius, age 88, of Trego, WI passed away on October 11, 2022, at his home on Matthews Lake.

Max was born to Lavern Charles Wiltzius and Odella Collette Wiltzius on September 6, 1934, in Clifton, KS.

Max and his family moved to Spokane, WA where he attended Gonzaga Preparatory School. At Gonzaga Prep, Max excelled academically and athletically. Max was twice named to the Spokane All-City football team as a 5’ 7” offensive tackle.

After high school, Max worked construction in Spokane and served as an MP in the U.S. Army. One evening in Tacoma, Max approached a table of young ladies and asked if any of them were “Cardinals”. By the end of the evening, Max might not have found any Cardinals, but he did walk away with his future wife and love of his life, Charlotte Yvonne Kopnick. Dad, here’s to Cardinal Puff for the first time!

Max and Char were united in marriage on July 6, 1957, in Ironwood, MI, and then returned to Spokane where Max attended Gonzaga University and earned his BS in Electrical Engineering in 1960. Max joined General Electric in the management training program and worked and lived in many communities across the United States before settling in Wisconsin and purchasing Whispering Pines Lodge on Matthews Lake in Trego, WI. Between 1975 and 1999, Max worked as an engineer and Char operated Whispering Pines Lodge. Max and Char treated their guests like family and together they provided thousands of families with wonderful Northern Wisconsin vacation memories. Max was a mentor and role model to many young adults that visited and worked at Whispering Pines Lodge. In 1999, Max and Char closed the doors at Whispering Pines Lodge and retired to Cabin #9 on Matthews Lake. Here’s to Cardinal Puff for the second time!

Max and Char enjoined over a decade of retirement together while living in Florida, Mississippi and always spending their summers in their cabin on Matthews Lake. Max’s life-long love passed in 2012 but their marriage of 56 years was a testament of their love and devotion to each other. After Char’s passing, Max found new purpose enjoying his children, grandchildren and eventually, his many great-grandchildren, following his Gonzaga Bulldog basketball team and, of course, the Packers. Go Zags! Go Pack Go. Max was a wonderful man, a legend in his own right, who will be missed by many.

Max is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Charlotte, daughter, Gwen, brother Ray, grandson, John and his beloved cat, Leo.

He is survived by his children: Jeff (Darlene), Janet (Randy) Fankhauser, Jill (Michael) Lipski and Jim (Elena) Wiltzius, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Private family services will be held on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Arrangements were entrusted to Bratley-Nelson Funeral Home, Spooner, WI. In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Croix Hospice-Frederic, 207 Oak Street East, Frederic, WI 54838.

Here's to Cardinal Puff for the third, and final time…

Last Update: Oct 13, 2022 12:10 pm CDT