Guenther G. Uhlig

Name: Visitation
Start: 12/10/2015 10:00 AM
End: 12/10/2015 12:00 PM
Location: Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service

August 21, 1928 — December 7, 2015

Guenther Gottfried Uhlig passed away on Monday, December 7, 2015, unable to evade the cancer in his body any longer. He was born to Friedel (Jurischka) and Karl Max Uhlig in Dresden, (East) Germany on August 21, 1928.
Guenther grew up in a family of seven children, including his twin sister Margot. After finishing school at age 14, he began a three-year wood-working apprenticeship in Niederroedern, 25 miles from Dresden. Following the bombing of his home town during World War II, Guenther rode his bike back to the devastated city, fearing for the safety of his family. His mother, sisters, and younger brother were unharmed, but ultimately his three older brothers were killed during the war. Unable to find work near his home following the war, he initially worked for six years in the hard-labor and dangerous coal mines of West Germany after illegally crossing the border. There were many hardships and always a fear for the safety of his family during the Russian occupation after the war.
Eventually, while working in his trade as a carpenter, Guenther met his future wife, Margarete Martha Von der Puetten in Eckardtsheim, West Germany. They were married on July 6, 1957. Finding no good options for housing in the war-torn country, Guenther and Margarete immigrated to the United States in February, 1958, being sponsored by Margarete’s brother Friedrich Von der Puetten. The trip included a 10-day voyage by boat across the Atlantic and then train rides from New York to Chicago and eventually to Sheboygan.
Using the fine craftsman skills he learned as a youth, Guenther worked at various wood-working industry jobs in Sheboygan, including several chair manufacturing companies. At that time, Sheboygan was known as “Chair City USA.” He also spent much of his free time in his treasured home workshop where he built and repaired a wide variety of wood-related projects.
But the most memorable and long-lasting impact of Guenther's life has been his singing career, including 58 years with the Concordia Singing Society and 27 years as lead singer with the Dorf Kapelle. His singing and showmanship abilities have brought incredible joy and entertainment over the years to thousands of audience members who have toasted to good food, cold beer, and Gemuetlichkeit!
Guenther was a long time member of Zion Covenant (formerly UCC) Church.
In addition to his wife Margarete, Guenther is survived by his two children, Doris Uhlig Theune (Marc) of Sheboygan and Karl Uhlig (Rochelle) of Clemmons, NC, four grandchildren, Michael Theune of Chicago, IL, Monika Uhlig-Mitchell of Clemmons, NC, Allison (Damon) Card of Denver, CO, and Max Uhlig of Raleigh, NC, one sister, Renate (Guenther) Niggemann, of Dueseldorf, Germany, sister-in-laws Wanda Uhlig of Bielefeld, Germany, and Renate Von Der Puetten of Sheboygan, many nieces and nephews, and other family and friends in the United States and Germany. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Karl-Heinz, Siegfried, Manfred, and Peter, and sister Margot.
Guenther’s immigrant beginnings, voyage to his new country, and singing life have been featured in several articles over the years in the Sheboygan Press and the Sheboygan County Historical Society & Museum newsletter. He always had a song in his heart, and as the long time director of the Dorf Kapelle, Ernie Broeniman remarked about Guenther, “because you sang and poured out your musical soul, the world has been a much better place for everyone”.
Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, December 10, 2015, at Zion Covenant Church, corner of sixth and St. Claire Ave. Pastor Chris McKnight will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held at the church at 10:00 am until the time of the service. Interment will take place at Sheboygan Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Guenther’s name that will benefit local musical organizations and musicians.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Sheboygan Progressive Care Center, St. Nicholas Home Health & Hospice, and Dr. Patrick Marsho & staff and Dr. H. Marshall Matthews & staff (especially Denise) for their care and compassion expressed to Guenther over the years.
The Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Guenther’s arrangements.

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