Ronald Peot

Ronald J. Peot, formerly of Grafton, died of complications from cancer peacefully at his home in Mukwonago on Monday, April 8. He was 76.

Mr. Peot was born on April 5, 1943, in Milwaukee to Wilfred and Irene Schmitt Peot.

He grew up in Grafton, where his parents ran the Ghost Town Tavern on Ulao Road.

Mr. Peot served in the Army and was stationed in Germany for two years during the Vietnam War. He was discharged in August  1970.

Mr. Peot worked for many years at North Shore Environmental of Germantown.  Later he operated his own company, Phantom Lake Sales, for more than 20 years.

He married Suzanne Machlieth of Port Washington on June 22, 1990, in Las Vegas.

They moved to Mukwonago after they were married, she said.

“We knew each other when we were kids  but we never dated,” Mrs. Peot said. “Some mutual friends got us together.”

They enjoyed fishing together. Bantam Lake near their home in Mukwonago was one of their favorites, she said.

The couple also enjoyed visiting casinos, rummage sales and flea markets. They also traveled often to Las Vegas, visiting Native American heritage sites.

Native American culture was one of her husband’s favorite hobbies, Mrs. Peot said.

“Whenever we were in Vegas, he liked to visit museums and reservations. He especially enjoyed the Valley of Fire (State Park),” she said. “He liked to hike and found some petroglyphs there.”

Mr. Peot’s other hobbies included photography and his parrot, Paco.

Mr. Peot is survived by his wife,  of Mukwonago, step-children Donald (Lisa Glad) Braun of Watertown, Timothy Braun of Fond du Lac and Kathy (Mark) Teder of Cary, NC; step-grandchildren Joshua Dreier and Zachary Braun; brother Douglas (Jelene) Peot of Waukesha; and sister-in-law Margaret Bowers of Lancaster, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Kenneth and sisters-in-law Sue Peot and Donna Craft; and brother-in-law David Bowers.

Grave-side services with military honors will be held at noon on Saturday, May 11, at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Port Washington.

Memorials to the American Cancer Society are suggested.

Poole Funeral Home is assisting the family.