Wayne Besaw

On January 1, 2024 Wayne F. Besaw, age 84 passed away at Theda Care Hospital Berlin with family by his side. His death was due to congestive heart disease. Wayne was born in Berlin, WI on August 21, 1939 to Charles and Eleanor (Freimark) Besaw. He attended St. Stanislaus Catholic School, Berlin High School (Class of 1958) and the University of WI-Stevens Point. On October 21, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart Joan Mlodzik at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Berlin. Together they had three sons and went on to celebrate 62 years of marriage. Following Wayne's graduation from UW-Point in 1962, the couple moved to Berlin. Wayne became employed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources working in Fisheries at the Oshkosh location. A position became available a year later in Wildlife Management and he relocated to the Berlin regional DNR office. One of his primary job functions was negotiating and acquiring land for the projects of Grand River Wildlife Area and the White River Marsh Wildlife Area. He also obtained game warden credentials and worked law enforcement during special hunting seasons. He very much enjoyed his career with the DNR and working with the many people he met along the way. Wayne retired from the DNR in 1997 after 34 years of service and began another phase of his life known as “retirement”. Those years were filled with spending fun times with his family, traveling with his wife and friends throughout Wisconsin and numerous trips to Branson, MO, reading , playing cards and taking many fishing trips to Green Lake and Lake Poygan along with several trips to the Canadian waters. Volunteering at the local food pantry, delivering mobile meals, participating in DNR projects such as water sampling on Lake Poygan and helping with various functions at All Saints Catholic church were other activities he enjoyed and did for many years. Wayne will be remembered by all who knew him as a caring, honest and law abiding person. Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Joan; sons, Michael (Dawn) Besaw, Neshkoro, WI, Craig (Lori) Besaw, Plover, WI and John Besaw, Columbus, WI., grandchildren, Joshua (Kate) Besaw, Nashville, TN, Kendra (Tom) Crowell, Beaver Dam, WI, Ryan Besaw, Los Angeles, CA, Brett Besaw, Philadelphia, PA, Brianna Besaw, Plover, WI, Dayton Besaw, Columbus, WI, Ashlyn Besaw, Sun Prairie, WI, Olivia (Liam) Boswell, Sun Prairie, WI; and great-grandchildren, Finnelly, Weston and Leo. Also surviving is his sister-in-law Ina Mlodzik, Berlin, WI, nephews, nieces and many friends. Wayne was preceeded in death by his parents, his brother, Lawrence Besaw; sister-in-law, Barbara Besaw; brother-in-law, Robert Mlodzik; and sister-in-law, Sally Jo Mlodzik. In honoring Wayne's wishes, cremation has taken place and private funeral services will be held with inurnment at St. Stanislaus Cemetery. In place of flowers a memorial has been established in Wayne’s memory.

Wayne Besaw

August 21, 1939 - January 1, 2024