Obituary of Norman Elwood McKonly jr

Of Waukesha, died on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 surrounded by his loving family at home at the age of 65 years. Bud was born on June 11, 1947 in Cherry Point, North Carolina. He was the son of Norman and Betty (Weicksel) McKonly. Bud proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Bud made a career working for the American Red Cross where he retired after 33 years of service. He served as the Chapter Executive for Greater Milwaukee for 23 years. Bud was a devoted member and past President of Ascension Lutheran Church where he started their cancer support group. He served on the City Cemetery Commission for Prairie Home Cemetery, was the President of the American Red Cross Retiree Association, member of the American Legion, an advocate for the Milwaukee Affiliate Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Chair of the Wisconsin Committee ESGR, member of the Wisconsin Veterans War Memorial, Member of the Milwaukee County Emergency Food Program Board and the Milwaukee Rotary. Bud enjoyed reading, biking, playing guitar and singing folk music. He was most passionate about spending time with his family and especially the grandchildren. Bud will be deeply missed by his wife Bennie whom he married on June 17, 1972; his daughters, Kelly (Michael) Berger, Megan (Sean) Zielinski and Donna McKonly all of Waukesha; his grandchildren, Ellie, Andrew, Ava, Emily, Cole and Nellie; siblings, Fred (Barbara) McKonly of PA and Susan (Ed) Leonard of VA; further survived by other relatives and friends. The visitation for Bud will be held on Monday, Sept. 24, 2012 from 3:00 p.m until 7:00 p.m. at the Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd. Waukesha. A second visitation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the 11:00 a.m. funeral service with full military honors at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1415 Dopp St, Waukesha. Rev. Chris Marien and Rev. Bob Brookover will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the American Red Cross in Southeastern Chapter WI, 2600 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233 or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave. Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. The lives Bud has touched with his love, patience, respect, grace and devotion are countless. The example he has set makes us all strive to be better, to be more like Bud.