Kenneth "Kenny" J. Damitz

God gives each person a number of days. Ken's number was 27,388.

Kenneth J. “Kenny” Damitz, 74, Weston, passed away Monday, October 21, 2019, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at Mount View Care Center, Wausau.

Ken was born October 26, 1944, in Antigo, son of the late George and Cecilia (Wilhelm) Damitz.  He grew up on the family dairy farm north of Hogarty with nine siblings.

Ken married Darlene Bruski on February 14, 1971. She preceded him in death in 1977. Ken married Tess Camomilli on December 12, 1981.  She survives.

Ken worked at various jobs, including his brother John's gas station in Rib Mountain and Mercury Marine, bartended at Oscar's in Fon du Lac, excelled as a salesman for Schwan's, ran the family farm for many years, and ended his working years at Hatley Veneer.

Ken enjoyed the outdoors, including deer and turkey hunting, running coyote and bear with friends, fishing with his best buddy Dave or brother Joe, and spending time in the woods with his canine best friend Vixie, who died three days before him. He enjoyed woodworking and building things. He had multiples of every hand tool because he could never find what he needed when he wanted it. As a result, he was always asking his wife or kids to get him the which-a-macallit or thing-a-majig. He was quite the jokester and often ordered a "timber float" when we went out to eat. (For those not in the know, that's a glass of ice water with a toothpick floating in it.) 

Ken always enjoyed old country western music, and a highlight of his life was meeting Waylon Jennings at one of his son's high school football games. In his later years, he loved reading books by Louis L'amour and Stephen Coonts. Ken was a lifelong Cubs fan and was thrilled when they won the World Series in 2016.

Survivors include his wife, Tess Damitz, Weston; children, Lee (Pam) Damitz, Crawfordville, FL, and Jody (Lori) Damitz, Cooksville, TN; step children, Amie Leonoff, Wausau, and Brenda Leonoff, Wausau; two grandsons, Christopher Damitz, NC, and Taddum Damitz, TN, and granddaughter, Arganie Leonoff, Wausau, whom he helped raise and who was the apple of his eye; three sisters, Patsy Damitz, Schofield, Marion (Richard) Meidl, AZ, Barbara Paxton, IN; three brothers, Joe Damitz, Schofield, Jim (Sue) Damitz, Aniwa, and George (Lou Anne) Damitz, TX; brother-in-law, Richard (Cindy) Camomilli, New Holstein; sister-in-law, Suzzette Camomilli, Kiel; and many nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his best friend of nearly 40 years, Dave (Carol) Callovi of Iron River, MI.

Besides his parents and first wife, Ken was preceded in death by infant son James, brother John Damitz, and sister Claire Martzahl.

The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on what would have been his 75th birthday, Saturday, October 26, 2019, at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Rothschild. The Rev. Allan Slowiak will preside. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services all at the church. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. the following day in St. Florian Catholic Cemetery, Hatley. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com

Ken's family wishes to thank the staff of Aspirus Wausau Hospital Palliative Care Unit, Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, and Mount View Care Center for their compassion and excellent care in his final days.

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