Charles Edward Rennicke

Charles Edward Rennicke, known to those who loved him as Charlie or Chuck, passed away on April 17, 2026, in Cedarburg, Wis., after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 81 years old.

Charlie was born on June 21, 1944, in Port Washington, Wis., to Arthur and Esther (Opitz) Rennicke. He grew up in the area and graduated from Cedarburg High School before going on to attend both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Milwaukee.

A proud American, Charlie served his country in the U.S. Army, spending part of his service stationed in Germany.

After his military service, he settled back in Wisconsin and worked for many years at Mercury Marine, where he built lasting relationships with his colleagues.

Charlie was a quiet, unassuming man whose kindness and intelligence ran deep. He never needed to be the loudest person in the room, but those who knew him understood just how sharp and thoughtful he truly was. A lifelong history buff, he always kept up with the news and could hold his own in any conversation about current events or the past. He had an incredible ability and fondness for solving crossword and sudoku puzzles, and his skill with them never failed to amaze those around him. For many years, he was a dedicated sports card collector, amassing an impressive collection. To the very end, Charlie remained an avid and loyal fan of the Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers, watching all their games with unwavering devotion.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Esther (Opitz) Rennicke and his brother Paul Rennicke.

He is survived by his brother Mark Rennicke, his sister Jean (Rennicke) Pitters, his nephews Aaron, Matt, Michael, Brian and TJ and his great-nieces and nephews Carsen, Cooper, Olive, Ford and Robbie, all of whom will carry his memory forward with love.

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Pine Ridge Condominum clubhouse in Grafton.

May he rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord, finally free from the burdens of illness, with the knowledge that he was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.