Former West Teacher Joe Antonie
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Antonie, Celestine Joseph Whether you knew him as Cel, CJ, Joe, Tony, Dad or Grandpa, you knew he made this a better place for
having been here. Cel was born in Hayes, Kan., on April 30, 1917, to Peter and
Caroline (Karlin) Antonie. When he was seven years old, the family sold their
farm and moved to Wisconsin, eventually settling in Two Rivers. He graduated
from high school as an honor student, acclaimed football and baseball player,
and was the first of his family to go on to college, attending the University
of Wisconsin. His college career was interrupted by World War II, during which
he served as a decorated B-17 navigator, flying 25 missions from North Africa
to Italy, Greece, Germany and Bulgaria. While on leave in Two Rivers before
going over seas, Cel met and married the love of his life, Betty (Heinrich),
and they enjoyed more than 62 years of marriage. After the war, he completed
his master's degree and chose to become a science teacher at Madison West High
School, much to the delight of the many students over the course of his
30-year career for whom science classes, especially biology, became something
to look forward to. As a teacher at West, he also served as a football coach
and was the schools first athletic director, combining his love of teaching
with his love of sports. Many of his former students stayed in contact with
him to let him know that their careers and personal lives were influenced by
him. Cel was an avid gardener who always planted more than he needed and
relished giving the excess produce away to neighbors, friends or just putting
it out by the curb for anyone to take. He loved to cook, once winning a local
newspaper recipe contest with a "family favorite" that until then the family
had never eaten. However, fishing was his real avocation. As a young man he
fashioned his own wooden baits and cherished the Pflueger Supreme reel his
young bride surprised him with. In 1964, he started a family tradition of
traveling to Red Lake, Ontario, for a yearly fishing trip and celebrated the
40-year anniversary by catching a walleye on the last pass of his last trip in
2004. Cel helped build his family's home, across from Midvale School, in 1952
from plans he drew up. From that home, he was a devoted member of Queen of
Peace Church, an active participant in the Westmorland neighborhood, and a
favorite neighbor to youngsters who wanted to know more about the bugs they
found. He was a wonderful mentor, teaching those around him that compassion
and understanding are the keys to strong relationships. Cel will be remembered
as a person who had a story or joke for every occasion, often telling a joke
in his last days to ease the grief everyone was feeling. He is survived by his
wife, Betty; children, Peter (Kristin) of Black Earth, Linda (Wayne) Antonie-Lusk
of Madison, Ellen (Michael) Hamm of Seattle, Wash., and Roger (Debra) of
Mission Viejo, Calif.; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Carolyn and Patrick Antonie,
Brian (Lindsay), Alex and Peter Hofsteen, Ian and Logan Hamrn, and Heather,
Laura and Steven Antonie; brothers, Lawrence, Felix (Grace) and Jerome
(Eunice) Antonie; sisters, Mary CaIdwell and Sr. Marcia Anionic; as well as
numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents;
brothers, Joseph and Cyril; and sisters, Rose Cretton and Ann Carley. The
family wishes to thank the many doctors and nurses who cared for Cel during
his last years, HospiceCare of Dane county (Kris, Kelly and Claudia) for
easing his pain and helping him on his journey, and "DJ", Cel's special care
giver for tender care and loving support in his last days. A Memorial Mass
will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, at
11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, with Father Todd Van Natta officiating.
Interment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery with military honors.
Family and friends may call from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the CRESS FUNERAL
HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2005, and from 10 a.m. until the
time of service at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that donations be made to memorials that will be designated at a
later date. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608)
238-3434 |
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