Arthur L. “Art” Balke, age 83 of Shawano, passed away Thursday evening, August 10, 2017 at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano.
Art was born December 15, 1933 in Shawano, a son of the late Truman and Esther (Rindt) Balke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. James Luther Church in Shawano. He attended St. James Lutheran School, and graduated from Shawano High School with the Class of 1952. Following high school Art entered the United States Navy and the United States Marines. He was stationed in Korea. Upon returning from service Art returned to Shawano where he took over his father’s bee keeping business. In 1961 Art went to work at the paper mill in Shawano, where he worked for 30 years.
On September 22, 1990 Art was united in marriage to Sherianne Lacy in Waupaca. He is a member of Peace UCC Church in Shawano. He was a member of the Shawano AmVets Post 10, the American Legion Post 117, and the Shawano V.F.W. Post 2723. Art enjoyed hunting, especially bird hunting with his dogs, fishing, and shooting pool. He coached Special Olympics for several years with the Shawano All Stars.
Survivors include his wife, Sherianne Balke of Shawano; his sons, Jay (Melissa Tucci) Balke of Shawano, Tim (Nicole) Balke of Shawano, and Jeff Balke of Green Bay; eleven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his step-children, Kelly Lacy and Kim Marquardt, both of Shawano. He is further survived by his sisters, Dolores (Tom) Duffek, Lorraine Pockat, and Carol St. Louis Herb, and Barbara Wix; his brother Bill (Cynthia) Balke; sister-in-law, Mary (Randy) Bohm; brothers-in-law, Edward (Mary) Krueger and Curt (Sue) Krueger; his special friend, Harvey Hohn; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law; his sister, Lavern Trewyn; and his brothers-in-law, Andrew Pockat, Bob Wix, Tom St. Louis, and Jim Herb.
Funeral services for Arthur L. Balke will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Peace United Church of Christ in Shawano. Pastor Marty Black will officiate. Interment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Shawano. Relatives and friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the hour of service. Shawano AmVets Post 10 will conduct full military honors at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers and plants, a memorial fund will be established in Art’s name for Peace UCC or the Shawano AmVets.