April 12, 1944 – September 12, 2017

Bronson passed away peacefully on September 12, 2017 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Bronson was born on April 12, 1944 to Harvey and Angeline Haase in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He attended St. Mary’s Grade School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he first met the love of his life, Jackie (nee Brehm) Haase.  In second grade, Bronson attended Jackie’s birthday party, where he announced to Jackie’s mother that it was his birthday too.  His future mother-in-law wrapped a box of crayons for him to open on their identical birthdays.  They went to Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha where Bronson was the all-time leading scorer in basketball for 48 years.  Bronson then attended Marquette University on a basketball scholarship where he was Coached by Ed Hickey, Hank Raymonds and then Al McGuire, who nicknamed him “Waukesha”.  Al made Bronson the honorary Captain of the infamous “Scrambled Eggers” on Marquette’s team in 1965.  Bronson went on to tell many Al McGuire stories over the years.  Shortly after graduation from Marquette, on July 30, 1966 Bronson and Jackie married. They raised their three children in Hartland, Wisconsin and spent much of their time “Up-North” in northern Wisconsin at their beloved cabin where Bronson loved to fish and spend time with family, whom he always made a priority.  Bronson worked at Ameritech Wisconsin (Wisconsin Bell) for 31 years and was President and CEO for 5 years.  He went on to become President and CEO of Wisconsin Gas and Vice President of WICOR and then President of Pabst Farms Equity Ventures.  He proudly served on the boards of The Marcus Corporation, C.G. Schmidt, Inc., Roundy’s and numerous civic and charitable boards and affiliations over the years including, Greater Milwaukee United Way, United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee Boys and Girls Club, Marquette University Business College and The Village of Chenequa.  He was named the Marquette University Business School Alumnus of the Year in 1997.

Bronson leaves behind Jackie, his wife of 51 years, and his children Kim (John) Besmer, Kerryann (Joe) Minton and Craig (Gina) Haase and his 6 grandchildren: Coleman and Tobias Besmer; Bash and Vivienne Minton; and Jay and Ava Haase. Bronson did not have any siblings and is preceded in death by his parents Harvey and Angeline Haase, and his in-laws Joseph and Catherine Brehm.

Visitation will be held at St. Teresa of Calcutta, North Lake (Hwy 83) on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 9:30-11:30am. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in memory of Bronson to the Carbone Cancer Center www.cancer.wisc.edu (Prostate Cancer Research Fund) in Madison, Wisconsin.

Our family would like to thank all at the UW Carbone Cancer Center, especially Dr. Joshua Lang and Nurse Amber as well as Dr. Jeremy Cetnar.

SERVICES

Visitation

Saturday, September 23, 2017

9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, St. Teresa of Calcutta

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, September 23, 2017
11.30 AM, St. Teresa of Calcutta

 Service Information