GenealogyBank.com
Hans Weissgerber Sr., founder of the Golden Mast and other area restaurants, dies at 100
Lake Country Reporter (Hartland, WI) - Friday, October 20, 2017
When Hans Weissgerber Sr., his wife, Maria, and their two sons arrived in Milwaukee in 1956, the family had already been through so much. Weissgerber fought in World War II, was captured by German troops and his family home was destroyed before he immigrated to the U.S. Eventually, he opened the Golden Mast Restaurant in Okauchee in 1967, followed by the Seven Seas, Gasthaus, Third Street Pier restaurants and the Edelweiss dinner riverboat in Milwaukee.
Weissgerber Sr. died on Oct. 10. He was 100. He was buried Oct. 13 at La Belle Cemetery in Oconomowoc.
Years in Europe
In the mid-1930s, Maria was 16 and living in Yugoslavia. Her parents arranged for her marriage to Weissgerber, then 18. During that time, such transactions were common as a means of combining property. The two were married for 72 years before Maria died in 2007.
Their son, Jack, was born in 1937, but the political and social landscape in Europe at that time was highly tumultuous. Weissgerber was drafted into the military in the late 1930s and served in King Peter's Serbian army.
After his service, Weissgerber returned home in 1941. Maria became pregnant with Hans Jr., but Weissgerber was called back into service when World War II broke out. During that time, Yugoslavia's communist leader, Josip Broz Tito, was organizing his army called the partisans to fight against the Axis powers.
Terrified for her family's fate, Maria and Jack left their farm for a nearby town. Crops on the Weissgerber farm were used to feed the Croatian and German troops, but when partisans discovered this, they burned the farm to the ground.
Weissgerber was granted a leave to return briefly to his family when Hans Jr. was born in 1942. Before he arrived, Maria was captured by the partisans and at bayonet-point was forced to surrender her father's machine gun.
A farm worker informed Weissgerber, who was surveying the family's ruined farm. Weissgerber turned himself over to the partisans to save Maria.
Through the intervention of friends, he was released, but eventually the Germans took control of the area, and Weissgerber was ordered to turn himself in, along with several other men. All but four were executed. Weissgerber remained in the custody of the German police.
For several years, Weissgerber was separated from his wife and two sons, who were forced to leave Yugoslavia. The family was finally reunited in Germany and lived in a refugee camp.
Coming to America
The Weissgerbers immigrated to South Bend, Ind., in 1955. A member of Maria's family sponsored them. A year later, Weissgerber and his family moved to Milwaukee, where he began work at the Uncle August sausage company.
Lacy's Resort on Okauchee Lake went on the market in 1961, and the Weissgerbers decided to go into business on their own. They demolished the old dance hall, and the Golden Mast Restaurant was built over the tavern. The dining room was completed in 1967. This past July, the restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The Weissgerbers purchased the Seven Seas on Lake Nagawicka in 1981. Two years later, the family opened the Gasthaus in Waukesha, which has since closed. They also opened the Third Street Pier restaurant in Milwaukee and launched the Edelweiss dinner riverboat.
Weissgerber continued to come to the restaurants as long as he could. He served prime rib sandwiches at Taste of Lake Country in Pewaukee as recently as 2015.
Weissgerber is survived by his son, Hans Jr. (Marijo), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Maria and his son Jack (Linda).
Hans Weissgerber Sr., founder of the Golden Mast and other area restaurants, dies at 100
Lake Country Reporter (Hartland, WI) - Friday, October 20, 2017
When Hans Weissgerber Sr., his wife, Maria, and their two sons arrived in Milwaukee in 1956, the family had already been through so much. Weissgerber fought in World War II, was captured by German troops and his family home was destroyed before he immigrated to the U.S. Eventually, he opened the Golden Mast Restaurant in Okauchee in 1967, followed by the Seven Seas, Gasthaus, Third Street Pier restaurants and the Edelweiss dinner riverboat in Milwaukee.
Weissgerber Sr. died on Oct. 10. He was 100. He was buried Oct. 13 at La Belle Cemetery in Oconomowoc.
Years in Europe
In the mid-1930s, Maria was 16 and living in Yugoslavia. Her parents arranged for her marriage to Weissgerber, then 18. During that time, such transactions were common as a means of combining property. The two were married for 72 years before Maria died in 2007.
Their son, Jack, was born in 1937, but the political and social landscape in Europe at that time was highly tumultuous. Weissgerber was drafted into the military in the late 1930s and served in King Peter's Serbian army.
After his service, Weissgerber returned home in 1941. Maria became pregnant with Hans Jr., but Weissgerber was called back into service when World War II broke out. During that time, Yugoslavia's communist leader, Josip Broz Tito, was organizing his army called the partisans to fight against the Axis powers.
Terrified for her family's fate, Maria and Jack left their farm for a nearby town. Crops on the Weissgerber farm were used to feed the Croatian and German troops, but when partisans discovered this, they burned the farm to the ground.
Weissgerber was granted a leave to return briefly to his family when Hans Jr. was born in 1942. Before he arrived, Maria was captured by the partisans and at bayonet-point was forced to surrender her father's machine gun.
A farm worker informed Weissgerber, who was surveying the family's ruined farm. Weissgerber turned himself over to the partisans to save Maria.
Through the intervention of friends, he was released, but eventually the Germans took control of the area, and Weissgerber was ordered to turn himself in, along with several other men. All but four were executed. Weissgerber remained in the custody of the German police.
For several years, Weissgerber was separated from his wife and two sons, who were forced to leave Yugoslavia. The family was finally reunited in Germany and lived in a refugee camp.
Coming to America
The Weissgerbers immigrated to South Bend, Ind., in 1955. A member of Maria's family sponsored them. A year later, Weissgerber and his family moved to Milwaukee, where he began work at the Uncle August sausage company.
Lacy's Resort on Okauchee Lake went on the market in 1961, and the Weissgerbers decided to go into business on their own. They demolished the old dance hall, and the Golden Mast Restaurant was built over the tavern. The dining room was completed in 1967. This past July, the restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The Weissgerbers purchased the Seven Seas on Lake Nagawicka in 1981. Two years later, the family opened the Gasthaus in Waukesha, which has since closed. They also opened the Third Street Pier restaurant in Milwaukee and launched the Edelweiss dinner riverboat.
Weissgerber continued to come to the restaurants as long as he could. He served prime rib sandwiches at Taste of Lake Country in Pewaukee as recently as 2015.
Weissgerber is survived by his son, Hans Jr. (Marijo), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Maria and his son Jack (Linda).
GenealogyBank.com
Hans Weissgerber Sr., founder of the Golden Mast and other area restaurants, dies at 100
Lake Country Reporter (Hartland, WI) - Friday, October 20, 2017
When Hans Weissgerber Sr., his wife, Maria, and their two sons arrived in Milwaukee in 1956, the family had already been through so much. Weissgerber fought in World War II, was captured by German troops and his family home was destroyed before he immigrated to the U.S. Eventually, he opened the Golden Mast Restaurant in Okauchee in 1967, followed by the Seven Seas, Gasthaus, Third Street Pier restaurants and the Edelweiss dinner riverboat in Milwaukee.
Weissgerber Sr. died on Oct. 10. He was 100. He was buried Oct. 13 at La Belle Cemetery in Oconomowoc.
Years in Europe
In the mid-1930s, Maria was 16 and living in Yugoslavia. Her parents arranged for her marriage to Weissgerber, then 18. During that time, such transactions were common as a means of combining property. The two were married for 72 years before Maria died in 2007.
Their son, Jack, was born in 1937, but the political and social landscape in Europe at that time was highly tumultuous. Weissgerber was drafted into the military in the late 1930s and served in King Peter's Serbian army.
After his service, Weissgerber returned home in 1941. Maria became pregnant with Hans Jr., but Weissgerber was called back into service when World War II broke out. During that time, Yugoslavia's communist leader, Josip Broz Tito, was organizing his army called the partisans to fight against the Axis powers.
Terrified for her family's fate, Maria and Jack left their farm for a nearby town. Crops on the Weissgerber farm were used to feed the Croatian and German troops, but when partisans discovered this, they burned the farm to the ground.
Weissgerber was granted a leave to return briefly to his family when Hans Jr. was born in 1942. Before he arrived, Maria was captured by the partisans and at bayonet-point was forced to surrender her father's machine gun.
A farm worker informed Weissgerber, who was surveying the family's ruined farm. Weissgerber turned himself over to the partisans to save Maria.
Through the intervention of friends, he was released, but eventually the Germans took control of the area, and Weissgerber was ordered to turn himself in, along with several other men. All but four were executed. Weissgerber remained in the custody of the German police.
For several years, Weissgerber was separated from his wife and two sons, who were forced to leave Yugoslavia. The family was finally reunited in Germany and lived in a refugee camp.
Coming to America
The Weissgerbers immigrated to South Bend, Ind., in 1955. A member of Maria's family sponsored them. A year later, Weissgerber and his family moved to Milwaukee, where he began work at the Uncle August sausage company.
Lacy's Resort on Okauchee Lake went on the market in 1961, and the Weissgerbers decided to go into business on their own. They demolished the old dance hall, and the Golden Mast Restaurant was built over the tavern. The dining room was completed in 1967. This past July, the restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The Weissgerbers purchased the Seven Seas on Lake Nagawicka in 1981. Two years later, the family opened the Gasthaus in Waukesha, which has since closed. They also opened the Third Street Pier restaurant in Milwaukee and launched the Edelweiss dinner riverboat.
Weissgerber continued to come to the restaurants as long as he could. He served prime rib sandwiches at Taste of Lake Country in Pewaukee as recently as 2015.
Weissgerber is survived by his son, Hans Jr. (Marijo), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Maria and his son Jack (Linda).
Hans Weissgerber Sr., founder of the Golden Mast and other area restaurants, dies at 100
Lake Country Reporter (Hartland, WI) - Friday, October 20, 2017
When Hans Weissgerber Sr., his wife, Maria, and their two sons arrived in Milwaukee in 1956, the family had already been through so much. Weissgerber fought in World War II, was captured by German troops and his family home was destroyed before he immigrated to the U.S. Eventually, he opened the Golden Mast Restaurant in Okauchee in 1967, followed by the Seven Seas, Gasthaus, Third Street Pier restaurants and the Edelweiss dinner riverboat in Milwaukee.
Weissgerber Sr. died on Oct. 10. He was 100. He was buried Oct. 13 at La Belle Cemetery in Oconomowoc.
Years in Europe
In the mid-1930s, Maria was 16 and living in Yugoslavia. Her parents arranged for her marriage to Weissgerber, then 18. During that time, such transactions were common as a means of combining property. The two were married for 72 years before Maria died in 2007.
Their son, Jack, was born in 1937, but the political and social landscape in Europe at that time was highly tumultuous. Weissgerber was drafted into the military in the late 1930s and served in King Peter's Serbian army.
After his service, Weissgerber returned home in 1941. Maria became pregnant with Hans Jr., but Weissgerber was called back into service when World War II broke out. During that time, Yugoslavia's communist leader, Josip Broz Tito, was organizing his army called the partisans to fight against the Axis powers.
Terrified for her family's fate, Maria and Jack left their farm for a nearby town. Crops on the Weissgerber farm were used to feed the Croatian and German troops, but when partisans discovered this, they burned the farm to the ground.
Weissgerber was granted a leave to return briefly to his family when Hans Jr. was born in 1942. Before he arrived, Maria was captured by the partisans and at bayonet-point was forced to surrender her father's machine gun.
A farm worker informed Weissgerber, who was surveying the family's ruined farm. Weissgerber turned himself over to the partisans to save Maria.
Through the intervention of friends, he was released, but eventually the Germans took control of the area, and Weissgerber was ordered to turn himself in, along with several other men. All but four were executed. Weissgerber remained in the custody of the German police.
For several years, Weissgerber was separated from his wife and two sons, who were forced to leave Yugoslavia. The family was finally reunited in Germany and lived in a refugee camp.
Coming to America
The Weissgerbers immigrated to South Bend, Ind., in 1955. A member of Maria's family sponsored them. A year later, Weissgerber and his family moved to Milwaukee, where he began work at the Uncle August sausage company.
Lacy's Resort on Okauchee Lake went on the market in 1961, and the Weissgerbers decided to go into business on their own. They demolished the old dance hall, and the Golden Mast Restaurant was built over the tavern. The dining room was completed in 1967. This past July, the restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The Weissgerbers purchased the Seven Seas on Lake Nagawicka in 1981. Two years later, the family opened the Gasthaus in Waukesha, which has since closed. They also opened the Third Street Pier restaurant in Milwaukee and launched the Edelweiss dinner riverboat.
Weissgerber continued to come to the restaurants as long as he could. He served prime rib sandwiches at Taste of Lake Country in Pewaukee as recently as 2015.
Weissgerber is survived by his son, Hans Jr. (Marijo), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Maria and his son Jack (Linda).
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
