Louis Henry Bethke

MADISON-Louis H. (Louie) Bethke was born on March 10, 1926, one of the 14 children of Henry and Selma Bloedow Bethke. He was born in Seymour, WI and grew up near Muscoda and went home to heaven on October 9, 2017, age 91, in Madison. Louis accepted Jesus Christ as his savior while in college in November 9, 1949. In later years he would spend many hours studying Scripture. Following his service in the US Army in WWII, Louie earned a B.S. in education from UW-Platteville. After teaching at the elementary level, he completed his M.S. in Educational Administration and served as Principal, school District Administrator and CESA Administrator during his 40-year career in education.  Louie married Eunice Mick in Boscobel, WI on June 1, 1953. He began to pursue his homebuilding and remodeling hobby by constructing their first house together on Barton Rd. in Madison. This would be the first of many homes he and Eunice worked on, up to building their last house on Old Sauk Rd. Louis also loved smaller woodworking projects, and made many useful and creative household items as well as a wood strip canoe and kayak.  Travel with family was another of Louie’s favorite things, and in retirement he and Eunice especially enjoyed traveling in Europe and with the Elderhostel program, which took them to many parts of the United States.  Louie leaves behind his wife Eunice, children Luanne (Larry) Redmond, Lynne (Mark) Carlstein, Boyce “BJ”(Sandra) Bethke, and June (Neil) Petrie, eight grandchildren and threetgreat-grandchildren. Louie is also survived by two sisters, Murial Speth and Annette Kreunen, and three brothers, Buddy, Floyd and Harry.  The Louie Bethke family wishes to thank all the staff at Brookdale-Yellowstone, Middleton, The Villa at Middleton Village and Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. for their dedicated care of Louie.  A memorial service will be held on October 13, 2017 at 1:00 pm, GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Avenue, Middleton, with visitation from 11:00 am. Burial will take place at Middleton Junction Cemetery.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.