Walter “Wally” E. Priewe

Walter E. “Wally” Priewe, 82, of Beaver Dam passed away Sunday, March 23, 2025, at his home, in the presence of family, after a year of health challenges.

Wally was born on February 6, 1943, to Alfred and Elsie (Krohn) Priewe in Whitewater, Wisconsin. At a young age he moved with his family to Beaver Dam, attending Clason Prairie Country School just down the road from the family’s home. He then attended school in town for Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1961. He served his country in the Air Force from 1961 to 1965, first at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine and later at Torrejon Air Base near Madrid, Spain. It was in Spain that he had the wonderful pleasure of spending time with his oldest brother, Bob, and his family, as they were stationed there, too.

A long-time employee of John Deere Horicon Works, Wally was an assembler. He enjoyed his time as union safety representative and serving in other union roles with IAM 837.

Wally met his wife, Pamela DeNure, in 1975 and their love grew.  On October 1, 1977, they were married at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rio, Wisconsin. Their faith was the cornerstone of their marriage, and this was reflected in the way they lived. They were blessed with two sons and a rich and meaningful life. Wally happily helped coach his sons’ baseball teams as they grew, and he attended all of their events and concerts. It was obvious that his boys, and later, also his grandchildren, were the light of his life.

Wally was a long-time member of Trinity Church-United Methodist. He loved serving people and did so while ushering and helping to serve many meals at the church. Perhaps his favorite was serving the weekly soup and sandwich lunches during Lent. During his ten-year involvement with Boy Scout Troup 736 at Trinity Church, 14 young people achieved the level of Eagle Scout.

When Pam retired from nursing and became a local pastor with the United Methodist Church, Wally embraced his new role as clergy spouse as they served churches in Wild Rose and Hancock, Wisconsin. He faithfully attended both churches each Sunday and often served as the greeter as people arrived. He stepped up to serve in whatever capacity was needed with joy and love. He made lasting relationships with the wonderful people in those churches, and he missed them when Pam retired to be home full-time in Beaver Dam.

Wally was a proud member of American Legion Post 146, faithfully participating wherever he was needed, often working with the kitchen staff on bingo nights or doing maintenance, set up, take down, and cleanup work before and after meetings and events. He especially enjoyed being part of a small group of members who remodeled the Veteran’s Center to meet new needs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert (Ethel), Richard, Gordon, Donald Priewe and Roger Gehrke, sisters Eleanor Margraf, Inez (Ken) Krause, Dorothy (Ken) McFarland, Mary (Bill) Gaull and Alice Cunningham.

Wally is survived by his wife, Pamela, sons, Daniel and his wife Eleni, and Joseph, grandchildren, Joshua, Peter, Cooper, and Annie Priewe. He is also survived by his brothers Gerald (Donna), Ralph, and Bruce (Sandy) Priewe, and sisters Eunice Helgeson and Shirley Larsen, his siblings’ surviving spouses, Betty Priewe (Dick), Betty Priewe (Gordy), Shirley Gehrke, Mary Priewe, and Roger Cunningham,  brother in law Dennis (Karen) DeNure, sisters in law Debi (Robert) Hoffman, Michelle (Dan) Kirch, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Trinity Church – United Methodist in Beaver Dam from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 1 p.m. Rev. Eric Taylor will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by the Beaver Dam American Legion Post 146 immediately following the service outside of the church. Inurnment will take place at Ohio Cemetery, Rio, WI at a later date.

If you wish, memorials may be made to Trinity Church United Methodist.