A. Theodore Bleckwenn

Madison- A. Theodore ""Ted"" Bleckwenn, age 81, died on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at UW Hospital. He was born on August 17, 1929 in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of William J. Bleckwenn Sr. M.D. and Marion (Dougan) Bleckwenn. He attended Madison West High School, where he was a nine-letter man in football, basketball, volleyball, and track; and was city, conference, and state champion in the shot put. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1951 and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity, a member of the 1947 Big Ten Conference champion basketball team and Big Ten All Star track team in 1950 and 1951 and held the Wisconsin record in the shot put.  He graduated from the UW Law School in 1954 and was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and elected to the Law School Student Executive Council. 

He married his beloved wife, Janet (Sandsmark) Bleckwenn on December 19, 1952.  Upon graduation from law school he joined Northwest Adjustors Inc. as secretary-treasurer until he formed a law partnership with Forrest F. Brimmer. He became a sole practitioner in 1976. His activities include Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cancer Crusade, United Way, Five-gallon Blood Donor to the Red Cross, and Credit Counseling Advisory Board.  He was a member of Downtown Kiwanis since 1960.  A long-time member of Bethel Lutheran Church, he was also a lifetime member of the National W Club. 

Ted lived in the Village of Shorewood Hills for over seventy years serving on numerous committees, as Trustee of the Village Board, and as President of Shorewood Hills. He was also a member of the Shorewood Hills Volunteer Fire Department for many years and served as president of its association.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter, Susan B. (Jeff) Grzeca of Milwaukee; son, William J. Bleckwenn III of St. Paul, Minnesota; a granddaughter, Kristen M. Grzeca; sisters-in-law, Vergene Journey of Washington, D.C., and Margaret Seehafer of Longboat Key, Florida; a niece and three nephews.  He was preceded in death by his brother, William J. Bleckwenn Jr., his sister, Jane B. Birkenmeier, and his parents. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the William J. Bleckwenn Scholarship fund, c/o U. W. Medical School or to the Attic Angel Nursing Home. 

A memorial service will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Bill White officiating. A visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A reception in the church will immediately follow the service.

The family would like to express our deep appreciation for the loving care given to Ted by the staff at the U.W. Hospital and Attic Angel Place.

He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and will be so deeply missed.