Anthony Bambenek

Anthony V. “Tony” Bambenek, age 89 of Fountain City, WI passed away at home on Thursday, September 16, 2021.

Tony was born in 1932 in Winona, MN, to Anthony and Rose (Wojciechowski) Bambenek.  He earned his first dollar as a boy by trapping a mink on Lake Winona.  He cherished the memories of growing up in Winona with his parents, siblings and friends on Grand Street by the Lake and the Mississippi river.  Tony joined the Navy in 1951 during the Korean War and spent his duty on the USS Lofberg (DD759) as a sonarman.  In 1952 he met and married the love of his life, Barbara Joan Longton.  After honorable discharge from the Navy, Tony and Barbara settled back in Winona to start their family.  He started his mechanical career at Federal Bakery in Winona and was there until they closed their doors, he then became an electrician’s apprentice and worked with Abrahamson Electric and later solo.  In the early 1980’s he co-owned the Cottonwood Inn, Bluff Siding with his wife where they were affectionately known as Mr. & Mrs. Mudd.  Throughout his life he found great joy in hunting, fishing and trapping, not to mention the auctions and flea markets.

Tony loved and cherished family and is survived by children Susan (Gerald) Suhr, Roger Bambenek, Laurie (Rick) Krause, Toni (Randal) Drier, and Jacqueline Bambenek; son-in-law Frank Andresen (Kathy Hansman); grandchildren Jeremy (Mary) Suhr, Nicholas (Sarah) Suhr, Kaitlyn (Jeremy) Smith, Shannon Andresen, Stephanie (Adam) Andresen-Stevens, Alexis Krause, Benjamin Krause and Colton (Hope) Nesler; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; brother Gerald Bambenek; sister-in-law Pamela (Dean) Larson; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews.

Tony was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Barbara, parents Anthony and Rose, daughters Karen Andresen and Mary Bambenek, son Raymond Bambenek, grandson Joshua Suhr, siblings: Donald, Emily, Evelyn, Frank, Fred, Isabelle, Joseph, Rosebud, Ruth, and Violet and many brothers- and sisters-in-law.

A private service for family will be held at a later date.  Memorials in Anthony’s name may be directed to Winona Health Hospice or a charity of choice.

The family would like to thank the staff at Winona Health Hospice for the love, affection and care of Tony.  He enjoyed all the visits and sharing of his life journey with the staff.