William H. “Bill” Bahrke

William H. “Bill” Bahrke of Port Washington passed away at his home peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. He was 82 years old.

Bill was born in Milwaukee on Dec.  29, 1943, the son of Helmuth and Margaret (nee Nuss) Bahrke. The family lived in Shorewood. He attended local schools and graduated from Shorewood High School in 1962. 

On June 24, 1967, Bill was united in marriage with Susan Eder. They were blessed with one daughter, Linda. The couple parted ways in 1987 yet remained devoted parents.

Bill found that one of his main purposes in life was to teach. He valued education and decided to attend the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for his undergrad studies and later pursued his master’s degree through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After years of hard work and dedication, Bill secured his role as a fifth-grade teacher at Donges Bay Elementary School in Mequon. He made countless connections with students and staff and continued to teach for 34 years before retiring. As Bill would say, “I do it for the outcome, not the income,” and that is a quote that will be forever cherished and continue to inspire every day.

On April 8, 1990, Bill found love and companionship again, marrying Kathleen “Kathy” Julian. He gained two additional daughters, Melanie and Michelle, whom he treated as his own, along with an expanded circle of family who cherished him. Family was certainly the center of Bill’s life, especially the grandkids. He made it a priority to support them in all of their interests, such as sporting events and performances, and loved every moment of it.

As a man of many hobbies, you could always find Bill staying busy. He enjoyed spending his summers painting houses with a friend. Bill also took pride in his home and having a meticulous yard. He was a very loyal sports fan, never missing a chance to cheer on his favorite teams: the Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Marquette, Badgers and Hawkeyes. He found enjoyment in financial planning and made sure to pass his knowledge down his family. Throughout it all, Bill was exceptionally good at putting a smile on your face and was quick to tell a joke, whether it be “fifth-grade level humor” or a classic “dad joke.”

Bill is survived by his beloved wife Kathy; his daughters Linda (Steven) LaFore of Menomonee Falls, Melanie (Kelly) Arndt of Port Washington and Michelle (Jason) Acevedo of Cedar Grove; his grandchildren Anna, Emily, Kaitlin (Elliot), Jacob (Jess), Ava, Alexander, Ashley (Logan) and Ainsley; and his great-grandchildren Marley, Raven, Harper, Quinn and Chanel. He is further survived by his brother Robert (Mary) Bahrke and sister Beverly (the late John) Burmeister, along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law John Burmeister.

A funeral service for Bill will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Grace Lutheran Church, 715 Sixth Ave., Grafton, Wis. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the service.

To honor Bill’s life, attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite sports attire.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Circle of Empowerment, a mission trip group at Grace Lutheran Church where Bill taught children in Nicaragua in 2011.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is honored to serve the Bahrke family. 

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.