Alfred P. Szews, Ph.D., P.E.

Alfred Paul Szews was born June 29, 1932, in Norrie, Wisconsin, and passed to eternal life on March 21, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Margo, nee Langetieg; by his three children, Mary (Barrett) Moore, Paul (Jennifer), and Thomas (Audrey); by 14 grandchildren: Barrett (Rachelle),  Ambrose, and Macartan Moore; Thomas, Joseph (Cassidy), Peter, Samuel, and James Szews, Christina (Samuel) Sladky, and Molly (Henry) Kuranz; and Matthew (Morgan), Jonathan, Michael, and Andrew Szews; by his sister, Sally (Maurus), brother, Nick (Nancy), and sister-in-law Janis (Schneeberg); by seven great-grandchildren, and by a large extended family.  Al was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Evelyn, née Sinski, his brothers-in-law, Edgar Maurus and George Schneeberg, and his late grandson, Jasper Paul Szews.

From 1965 to 1996, Al served as professor of electrical engineering, and student advisor, at Marquette University.

Al’s paternal grandparents, Joseph and Mary, immigrated from Poland in the early 1900s, and raised Al’s father, Edward, “up north” near Hatley, Wisconsin.  Al, however, grew up primarily in Cudahy, where his father worked for Ladish Co.  Al attended St. Joseph grade school, graduated as valedictorian (and basketball center) from Notre Dame High School in Milwaukee in 1951, received his B.S.E.E. from Marquette University in 1956, and received his masters and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from U.W. Madison in 1961 and 1965, respectively.

On a sub-zero Saturday in January 1962, between semesters (and thanks to a blind date arranged 15 months earlier by a Triangle fraternity brother) he married his beloved Margo, whom he would humorously introduce as, “my first wife.”   Al and Margo moved to Milwaukee in 1965 when he accepted his teaching position with Marquette’s School of Engineering.  He loved his work, and would tell his class that, “I teach Catholic engineering.”  He also worked for over four decades as a technical consultant and sought-after expert witness, as he could never be intimidated by a judge, jury, or opposing counsel (or by exuberant webelo scouts, or  teenage children, for that matter!).  Al was also a Ford Foundation Fellow, a member of I.E.E.E., Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, Triangle Fraternity, and the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, among others.

Al was active in various church and community activities, including Holy Name Society, Parish Council, Parish Board of Education, Boy Scouts, and the West Allis-West Milwaukee Board of Education (1985-88). He and Margo were part of a group that founded Aquinas Academy in 1991 in Menomonee Falls.  For over 40 years, Al served as president of the local (St. Gregory VII) chapter of Catholics United for the Faith, which invited monthly speakers and published a monthly newsletter (thank you to Margo!).

Mary, Paul and Tom have fond memories of bedtime stories read by their dad, learning to draw with him after dinner, playing board games (he patiently taught chess and Monopoly to all comers, children and grandchildren alike), playing on teams that he coached (softball, basketball), helping him tend his very productive vegetable gardens, and taking “at least one class” from him at Marquette University.   Al always made himself available to talk and counsel his children, and, later on, his grandchildren, as they navigated life’s challenges, sometimes for hours around the kitchen table, sometimes by phone, and often over a long breakfast out.

In later years, Al turned his attention from growing vegetables to growing and tending flowers, and to feeding the backyard birds (while outsmarting the squirrels!).   The many youthful summers Al spent on his maternal grandfather’s farm near Hatley, Wisconsin was the genesis for his connection to nature. His resulting knowledge of the humble cow and of the dairy business,  turned out to be valuable assets during his consulting career.

Faith and family were always the centerpieces of Al and Margo’s life together. They learned, and love, their Catholic faith, have generously supported many Catholic (and other) organizations, and could always express “the reasons for their hope,” to whomever inquired.  Voracious readers both, they gave away countless Catholic books to family, friends, neighbors, waitresses, plumbers, you name it!   As “Grandpa and Grandma,” for over 30 years, Al and Margo babysat on demand, and kept everyone  connected, including by hosting weekly meals out, and semi-annual long weekends away, for any and all family who could join. They planned their summers around the annual Szews family reunion.  And, especially after Al retired (1996), he and Margo attended every possible event involving a grandchild, ranging from volleyball and basketball, to plays and forensics tournaments, letting every child and grandchild know how much they were loved and cherished.  Al, Dad, Grandpa, Great-grandpa, and “Great Grandalf,” we miss you so much, and we love you forever!

Visitation will take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin. Rosary at 7:15 PM.

Additional visitation on Friday, April 10, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, with Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 PM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 8500 West Cold Spring Road, Greenfield, Wisconsin.

Many thanks to Al’s doctors and caregivers at Clement Manor, St. Luke’s Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital, he loved and appreciated all of you.  Thanks, too, to Open Flame restaurant, for serving Al, Margo, and their guests, many good meals over many years.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in Al’s name to:  St. John the Evangelist Parish and School https://www.stjohns-grfd.org; or to The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, https://www.sistersofmary.org.