Donald "Pete" Schwede

Donald W. "Pete" Schwede, 85, of New Berlin and formerly of Wausau, passed away peacefully in Milwaukee on December 6, 2023.

Pete was born on February 7, 1938, in Wausau, Wisconsin, son of the late Charles and Mayme (Kittel) Schwede. He enlisted in the U.S. Army serving during the Berlin Crisis and was later honorably discharged. He married Doris Luedtke and together they raised their three children. He spent his entire career traveling the United States and Canada with the HammerBlow Corporation, retiring in 2001 as their National Sales Manager. In his younger years, Pete enjoyed vegetable gardening, building trailers, and snowmobiling. He co-owned a race car with his brother Ed and was involved at the local racetracks. He was an avid NASCAR fan attending many races, including the inaugural race in Fort Worth, Texas. He was a dedicated Green Bay Packers fan, even while living in Dallas, Texas. Pete also loved cooking, preparing many delicious meals for his family. In 1971, while on a business trip in southern Illinois, he was asked to bring the gold plated football from Chicago to Wausau for the Wausau Log trophy. He may have broken every speed record in Illinois and Wisconsin delivering the ball to Wausau, just two hours before the first East-West High School Log Game. More than anything Pete loved gathering with family and friends, and he will be fondly remembered for his witty sense of humor. In his final years he married Sharon Fohr who survives him. 

He is survived by his three children: Darlene (Randy) Vlietstra, Dean Schwede, and Donna (Nate) Guldan. Pete also leaves his beloved grandchildren: Amber (Dan) Bassindale, Kyle (Alison) Vlietstra, Sara (Tyler) Raduechel, Caden, Tyler, and Landry Guldan, and seven great grandchildren: Dorothy, Autumn, Charles, Kash, Hazel, George, and James. Pete leaves his sister Delores Anderson and brothers Edward (Shirley),Charles Jr. (Marjorie) and Billie Schwede along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Pete is preceded in death by a brother, Morris Schwede, and two sisters: Belvajean Tritten and Marilou Newman.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. - 11 :00 a.m. at Mission Evangelical Church, 243734 Camp Blessing Road, Wausau, WI 54403. A funeral service will follow at 11 :00 a.m. in the church. Burial with full military honors rendered by Wausau VFW Post 388 will follow the service at Mission Evangelical Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Helke Funeral Home.