Miles "Mike" Raymond Stanke

Miles Stanke, who served as a guide to students and the community at-large throughout his professional and civic life, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. He was 78 years old. Known as Mike to his colleagues and friends, Mr. Stanke first forged his career in the classroom, beginning in the Elcho school district in the early 1960s and then transferring to Antigo High School, where he also acted as yearbook adviser. Even after his retirement he continued in education, teaching homebound students from the Antigo school district as well as instructing classes at Northcentral Technical College and the Homme Home for Boys and Girls in Wittenberg. But he is perhaps best known as a political leader, earning honors as Antigo's longest-serving mayor with a tenure that stretched from 1991 to 2003. Prior to becoming mayor, he acted as Fourth and Seventh Ward alderman on the Antigo Common Council. He was also a supervisor on the Langlade County Board and a director for the Langlade County Housing Authority. He currently was a member of the Antigo school board. Miles Raymond Stanke was born March 30, 1934 in Belleville, a son of the late Oscar and Zelda (Fritz) Stanke. He married the former Geraldine "Gerry" Deppe on Feb. 26, 1955 in Columbus. She preceded him in death on Dec. 30, 2009 after 54 years of marriage. Mr. Stanke graduated from Waterloo High School, served in the U.S. Army infantry and attended university in Wisconsin, Oregon and Michigan. He graduated with a teaching degree in history, with a minor in psychology. In addition to his work as an educator and political leader, Mr. Stanke constructed pools, bartended at the Cutlass Motor Lodge, Riverview Country Club and Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, and drove bus for Mid-Wisconsin Coaches. A man devoted to his community and family, Mr. Stanke also enjoyed hunting and his Springer Spaniels. Survivors include a daughter, Kelly (Tom) McAuly of Mattoon; three sons, Tim (Debbie), Lakeland, Minn., Pat, Livingston, Mont., and Kris (Kathy) of Antigo; and 13 grandchildren, Ben, Allison, Eric, Jessica, Elizabeth, Molly, Kayla, Sally, Riley, Brianna, and Braden Stanke, along with Kelsey and Kaityn McAuly. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Ed, and a sister, Faith Kohl. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Antigo United Methodist Church. Military honors will be conducted following the service. Visitation is planned Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Strasser-Roller Funeral Home and Saturday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. A memorial will be established in his name to support education.