Konrad Cullen Testwuide III

Konrad Cullen Testwuide III of Sheboygan passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, at the age of 93. Born July 13, 1933, to Konrad Jr. and Charlotte Andersen Testwuide. He was a lifelong resident of Sheboygan apart from college and military service. He attended Grant School, graduated from Central High in 1951 and from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1955 with a degree in economics and finance and a commission in the Navy through the University Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). At Madison he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, the University Men's Choir, and played varsity tennis.

He reported to duty to the U.S.S. Iron County in San Diego, California. The ship was transferred to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Seventy years ago, on July 28, 1956, he was united in marriage to Mary Jo Stiglitz his longtime high school and college sweetheart. They enjoyed a beautiful year-long honeymoon in Hawaii while Konrad completed his active military duty. They then returned to Sheboygan where they raised their family.

He left active duty as executive officer of his ship and reported for his two-year required reserve duty at the Sheboygan Naval Reserve Training Center in 1957. He remained in the Reserve and after 23 years of military service he retired in 1974 as Commanding Officer of the Sheboygan Naval Reserve Unit and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

In Sheboygan, Konrad entered the investment business.

He joined the H.C. Denison Co. as Vice President in 1964. Nine years later he bought the company and became president and controlling stockholder. He took the position of chairman of the board in 1996 when his son James bought the business and became president.

Konrad took great joy in helping people realize financial success no matter the size of their portfolios. He continued to go to the office daily until his last days.

Firmly believing in community service, Konrad was involved in numerous civic clubs, fund raising projects and served as a board member of many groups and corporations.

To his children and grandchildren Konrad set an example of a conservative and serious work ethic, a deep love of nature, and responsibility to the betterment of his community. However, fun and mischief could be included, often accompanied by a song.

Among his community service positions, he was a co-founder, president, and emeritus director of the Sheboygan Economics Club, Campaign chairman for the Sheboygan Historical Society's drive for the new museum, director of the Hayssen Foundation, President of the Downtown Rotary Club, a Rotarian since 1964, a Paul Harris Fellow and a recipient of the Rotary Club's Good Citizen Award. As the original director and treasurer of the Mead Public Library Foundation, he was named Emeritus Director.

Konrad’s many business interests included, co-founder and director of the Community Bank and Trust. Vice Chairman of the Board of Schreier Malt, Director of Prairie Malt Co. of Canada, Director of Horizon Systems and Service, Inc., Past President (1989) and Advisory Board Director of the Wisconsin Division of AAA (26 years), Wisconsin Corporation Real Estate Development & Leasing Ventures (Timberlake), Past Vice President of Sheboygan Falls Industrial Development Corporation, President of Bobkon Ltd., a member of the Security Traders Association and the Milwaukee Bond Club. Konrad was an appraiser of closely held corporations in eastern central Wisconsin for various courts and entities.

Konrad was a lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry, the Finance Committee and was a director of the Grace Walsingham Foundation.

He had a lovely voice, as a child and young man he sang in the choir at Grace Episcopal Church, in the Central High School choir and quartette and in the University of Wisconsin’s men’s choir until practice interfered with an active social life. He liked to say he started as a tenor and ended as a bass. He was well known to spontaneously break into song but most often he led singing at many large family parties where original songs were a long-standing tradition.

An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting and fishing. While living on the shore (now Whistling Straits golf course) of Lake Michigan during his teen years, he duck hunted, fished and trapped daily before school. His first car, a 1935 Buick was purchased with $35 he earned from selling a wild mink pelt. He passed that love on to his family. He especially enjoyed taking his sons, a son-in-law and grandchildren on trips to Alaska for salmon and to Colorado to hunt elk.

Konrad was pleased and proud to be able to support and promote his interest in the out-of-doors and conservation by co-founding and serving as president and chairman of the Sheboygan Area Ducks Unlimited Chapter—the second in the state. DU does great work nationally in wildlife habitat conservation and locally in 2023 supported the huge dam project at the Sheboygan County Marsh.

He was an original member of the Outdoor Skills Center, a founder and chairman of the original Rotary Club COHO Derby which became a very large fishing event starting in 1971. It became an immediate success and funded Rotary Riverview Park, the Lake Michigan boat launch and other civic projects.

Konrad enjoyed golfing with friends at Pine Hills Country Club where he was pleased to be given Honorary Membership.

Konrad and Mary Jo traveled frequently and extensively to many foreign countries. They were able to share their love of travel with their children and grandchildren by taking family trips to foreign countries.

As each grandchild turned 12, he and Mary Jo took them on a special road trip across the US to various National Parks that ended at the annual National Wildlife Federation Summit. There they experienced varied outdoor activities and programs.

Summertime was spent at Elkhart Lake where seven generations of their family have enjoyed summers at the family cottage.

Winter was ski season. Konrad and Mary Jo spent more than 50 winters skiing in Vail Colorado. It was a special treat for them to host friends and family there. In his 90th year he was able to ski with two little great granddaughters. The entire family continues to enjoy the condominium in Vail.

His “happy time” was watching wildlife on the Pigeon River outside his windows and his daily drive along Lake Michigan to and from his office. He loved Sheboygan.

He was very proud of his family.

Konrad is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Jo and his three children, 9 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. His son Konrad IV (Julie) and their children Emily (Mike Tausek), Molly (Andrew) Bliss with great grandchildren Chloe, Cooper, and Charles, and Konrad V.

His son James (Heidi) their daughters Amanda (Zack) Black with great grandchildren Charlie and William, Marlo and Jamie (Bryan) McMichael with great granddaughter Grace.

His daughter Laura (Hartmut) Liebel and their children Hartmut (Kaylyn) with great grandchildren Anton and Harrison, Robert (Madison) with great grandson Siegfried and Paige.

He is also survived by his brother Paul (Janet) Testwuide and sister-in-law Joanne O’Connor. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other beloved cousins, relatives and dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his infant son, Joseph.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ducks Unlimited or Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.