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Benno Treu

June 21, 1935 - July 18, 2026
Visitation
Ridgewood Church
2720 Lilly Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Friday 7/24, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Service
Ridgewood Church
2720 Lilly Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Friday 7/24, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Cemetery
Wisconsin Memorial Park
13235 West Capitol Drive
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005
Friday 7/24

Burial to follow service at Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Treu, Benno

June 21, 1935 – July 18, 2026

Born into eternal life on Saturday, July 18th, 2026, at 91 years old.

Loving husband of Hanne for 49 years. Cherished father of Tina Maier (Jerry), Martin Treu (Aly), Diana Treu, Lisa Kartos (Drew). Treasured grandfather to Charlotte and Addie Maier, River Kartos, and Henry Wendler. Special brother of Siegfried Treu of Pittsburgh, PA.

Lovingly remembered by the many students who were lucky enough to learn under him, his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was born June 21, 1935, in Hohenwalde, East Prussia. He encountered hardship early on when World War II forced him and his family from their home when he was only 9 years old.

After escaping the Russians, he lived for the next 7 years in western Germany, where he found his love of music. He often remembered his blind piano teacher, who helped cultivate a deeply rooted love for classical music in his heart.

16-year-old Benno immigrated with his family to the United States over the Atlantic to Hillsboro, KS, and later to Milwaukee, WI. After he received his bachelor’s degree at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for Education, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received his master’s degrees in Latin and Greek Languages. He taught English and German in the Milwaukee Public School system for 27 years, shaping the lives of many young men and women, while also teaching adult German classes in the evenings at the Goethe Haus in downtown Milwaukee. Even after his so-called ‘retirement’, he worked another 10 years as a substitute teacher for Grafton High School before fully retiring at the age of 72.

Benno’s family and home were of highest priority to him. He took meticulous care of his home, inside and out, and raised his 4 children with Hanne to be well-rounded and God-fearing. He made sure to share lots of German tradition with his kids, with an emphasis on family and classical music, as well as a hard work ethic.

He was always hungry to learn more about music, languages, and history, and loved meeting new people. He would often approach strangers and share his love for especially German, but other languages as well.

His passion for classical music stayed with him for the entirety of his life, and although his memory failed him more as time went on, he played piano (often for memory) until just a month before his death.

He always remained so kind, optimistic, helpful, and grateful.  The adjective consistently used to describe him in his later years was so “sweet”.

His light and life will be greatly missed, and his legacy will carry forward through the coming generations.

Visitation will be held July 24, 2026, at Ridgewood Baptist Church, 2720 Lilly Road, Brookfield, WI 53005 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, and Funeral Service from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Burial to follow at Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Close-up portrait of an older man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a blue jacket and checkered shirt, looking slightly off-camera.
Young woman kissing an elderly man in a wheelchair outdoors, at a picnic table.
Two men pose with their arms around each other, smiling at the camera outside a brick building.
Three people stand arm-in-arm in front of a brick house doorway, smiling at the camera (an older man on the left, a young woman center, an older woman on the right).
Older man with glasses giving a thumbs-up in a kitchen beside a welcome sign that reads 'Welcome' (partial text visible).
Smiling elderly couple posing for a selfie outdoors, woman in a red cardigan and glasses, man wearing sunglasses beside her under a leafy tree.
Two smiling adults pose in a sports store, wearing Packers gear and oversized yellow foam fingers with a green G logo on shelves behind them
Studio family portrait: an older man in a suit and tie on the left, a smiling woman in a red sweater seated, and several children standing and posing in colorful outfits behind and beside them.
Elderly man in a dark sweater playing a upright piano in a living room, with a lamp and framed artwork behind him.
Smiling older man and woman sitting close together on a blue striped outdoor couch against a brick wall.
Three adults pose together outside a pavilion, smiling at camera; man in the middle wears a blue shirt and cap, flanked by a woman in a blue daisy shirt and an older man in light polo.
Young girl with face paint smiling and hugging an elderly man wearing glasses at a cozy indoor event.
Grandmother and grandfather sit with their smiling granddaughter in a red dress on a couch.
Smiling girl in a black and yellow Packers beanie with a pom-pom, leaning against an older man wearing a brown zip-up sweater on a couch.
Three generations posing outdoors: an elderly man sits between two smiling girls, one with missing teeth on the left and a girl in blue holding a basketball on the right.
Older man relaxing in a blue-striped polo on a porch swing outdoors, greenery in the background.
Smiling family of six posing outdoors in front of a house; two adults behind four children in summer clothing.
An older man with gray hair hugs a smiling young girl outdoors, seated in a garden.
Three generations posing together: an elderly man flanked by two smiling girls on a wooden backdrop.
Person riding a lawn mower across a large grassy yard near a brick house.
Three people stand side by side in a cozy living room, smiling at the camera.
Two people stand on the back of a pickup truck moving household items, including a mattress and chairs, on a sunny day.
An elderly man with glasses sits in a red chair while a child kisses his cheek; a stack of magazines sits on a nearby table.
Family of five on a brick porch swing, smiling at the camera.
Smiling elderly woman, man, and a younger woman with a cap pose together with a small child on blue stadium bleachers outdoors.
Three people posing for a photo: an smiling older woman on the left, a braces-wearing girl in the center, and an older man on the right, with masks pulled under their chins.
Close-up group selfie of five smiling people: man with glasses on the left and four others in a living room background.
Young woman in a maroon graduation gown and cap with white cords beside an older man in a striped shirt, standing by a stone fireplace indoors.
A multi-generational family poses together on a living room sofa, smiling at the camera.
An elderly man with glasses sits between two smiling women; the left woman kisses his cheek, the right woman smiles at the camera in a home setting.
Older couple posing together outdoors in a garden, smiling; woman wears a purple dress and jacket, man in a dark suit and tie, with trees and flowers in the background.
A family group sits closely together on a patterned sofa in a living room, smiling at the camera.
Group of six people posing for a photo at an outdoor graduation ceremony; one graduate wears a black cap and gown and holds folders and papers.
Smiling older couple sitting together in a living room, woman in pink top and man in blue striped shirt posing for a photo.
Grandfather wearing glasses lifts a smiling baby onto his shoulders indoors in a living room.
Six family members sit around a table enjoying a meal, with dishes, wine, and a bottle visible on the table.
Older couple relaxing in outdoor lounge chairs on a grassy lawn, smiling at the camera.
Older man with gray hair and glasses sits on a brown couch, wearing a teal/blue shirt and tan pants, looking at the camera in a living room.
A smiling family of four sits on a porch with flowers in front, in front of a brick wall and window.
Family of three in a small rowboat on a calm lake with a forested shore in the background, paddling together.
Three people sit at a table posing for a photo: a striped-shirt older man on the left, a smiling man in a blue shirt in the middle, and a woman wearing a tiara on the right, with a Hello Kitty mural in the background.
Three smiling friends pose together in a cozy, wood-paneled room at a casual gathering; one seated with a plate of food.
Man sleeping in bed with two young children, a toddler and a girl, all resting close together under blankets.
Older woman with glasses wearing a patterned sweater cradles a newborn baby in white clothing.
Father holding a baby and sharing a kiss beside a Christmas tree with ornaments and wrapped gifts nearby
Man wearing glasses sits in a kitchen, talking on a corded wall phone mounted on the wall/near the counter.
Three people sit at a cafe table, smiling at the camera, with drinks and a blue promotional card on the table.
Man in striped pajama top with a baby on his lap, sitting in a living room with a rocking horse toy nearby and holiday decorations on a table behind them.
Three men at a party; two friends kiss the man in the middle on the cheeks while he smiles.
Older man with glasses sitting on the floor, holding a smiling baby in red, with a piano in the background.
Smiling grandfather in glasses holding a baby in a blue onesie indoors.
Elderly man wearing a gray sweater sits on a sofa, smiling, while holding a small gray kitten on his lap.
Two men sitting close on a brown couch, smiling at the camera; older man with glasses on the left, younger man with blond hair on the right, arm around.
Young girl sitting on an older man's lap in a burgundy chair, holding a small plush fox toy indoors by wood-paneled walls.
Two men sit closely on a couch, smiling at the camera; older man on the left with glasses and gray hair, younger man on the right with a striped polo shirt and beard.
An elderly couple smiles in a cozy kitchen; the man leans over the seated woman wrapped in a robe, holding a sweater and a bottle on the table nearby.
Four people stand together indoors, smiling for a group photo in a living room with framed art in the background.
Grandfather standing behind a burgundy couch with a smiling mother and two young girls seated in front in a cozy room.
Older man stands behind a seated woman, hand on her shoulder, in a hallway with framed floral wall art.
Man in a gray suit holding a baby in a light outfit, standing in front of a brick house with a white door.
Three people sit closely on a couch, smiling for the camera: an older man in a red shirt, a middle-aged woman, and a young woman in a green Michigan sweatshirt.
An elderly man in a red-and-pink knit hat holds a smiling young girl in a pink plaid jacket while sitting on a brown couch in a wood-panelled room.
A man with gray hair sits on a couch, holding a young child wrapped in a red and gray plaid blanket.
A multigenerational family sits around a dining table, smiling as they hold hands across the table during a meal.
Group portrait of eleven people, adults and a child, posing indoors against a wood-paneled wall, all smiling at the camera.
Older couple smiling at a restaurant table with a frothy beer in the foreground.
Father and three children posing close together beside a dark fireplace, smiling at the camera. The man wears glasses and a light shirt; the kids wear striped, blue, and patterned sweaters.
Elderly man in a blue striped shirt sits in a chair behind a tall vase of red roses and white baby's breath lilies.
Three people stand together indoors, smiling: an older man in a blue striped polo flanked by two young women in casual outfits.
Three smiling people stand side by side on a porch, with a brick wall and wooden door behind them (two older adults flanking a younger man).
Grandfather and granddaughter posing on a couch; girl playfully covers one eye with a yellow pom-pom and smiles.
Four people—a woman, two girls, and an elderly man—sit together on a couch, smiling at the camera.
Teenage girl stands beside an elderly man outdoors, arm around his shoulder, both smiling in front of a blue house exterior and plants.
Elderly couple dining at a table with a flower vase, enjoying their meals and drinks at a homey restaurant setting.
Smiling group around a dinner table with yellow napkins and drinks during a celebration.
Man helps a girl hang from a tree branch as another child watches in a park setting.
Older man with gray hair and glasses standing beside a young woman in a sparkly black top, against a vertical wood-panel wall.
Smiling couple seated at a dinner table in a dim setting; woman wears a white embroidered blouse and the man wears a gray jacket and striped shirt, leaning together.
Older man with gray hair and glasses sits on a light-striped sofa, wearing a black sweater and gray pants.
Group of children and adults posing outdoors on a grassy lawn with folding chairs, trees in the background and a red car nearby.
Girl standing beside a man playing a large accordion in a home kitchen with wooden cabinets and dishes visible in the background, smiling.
Older man in a patterned sweater playing a piano in a cozy living room, Christmas lights visible outside the window.
Man wearing glasses sits on a patterned sofa with a young girl holding a yellow toy phone to her ear.
Five people smiling and posing for a casual group photo indoors, with two young women on either side, an older man wearing glasses in the center, and a younger girl in front.
Four people sit closely on a dark sofa, smiling at the camera: an older man in a blue shirt, a teenage girl in a pink jacket, an older woman in a striped blouse, and a young person in a Washington DC hoodie on the right.
Family of five seated on a couch indoors, smiling at the camera with a floral throw draped over their laps.
Five people sit closely together on a sofa in a sunlit living room, smiling at the camera with a window behind them.
Two men lean on a black metal railing in a park, smiling at the camera; one older with glasses, the other shirtless in a white cap and colorful swim shorts.
An elderly man with white hair sits in a gray upholstered armchair in a living room, wearing a blue polo shirt, khaki pants, blue socks, and brown shoes.
Old couple smiling and leaning together at a dining table during a celebration, with drinks and desserts in front of them and floral decor in the background.
Family of six posing on the steps of a large, columned building (courthouse/mederal building).
Two smiling older adults posing closely for a photo at a formal event, with a red boutonniere on the woman's lapel and warm lighting behind them.
Five family members sitting close together on a couch, smiling at the camera: an elderly man, a young woman, a boy, another young woman, and an elderly woman on the right.
Four people sitting on a sofa: a young girl with a blue headband, an elderly man in a gray sweater, and two smiling women—one in a floral top and another behind them.
Two smiling older men take a selfie indoors, one in a dark patterned shirt giving a thumbs up toward the camera.
Older man wearing a bright yellow, blocky hat indoors, with a smiling woman in a blue sweater in the background.
Family group portrait in a living room with a Christmas tree: an elderly man seated, two girls, and a smiling woman standing behind them.
Grandfather in sunglasses sits with grandmother and two kids on a porch swing, smiling for a family photo.
Older man with glasses sits on a striped couch, unwrapping a birthday/holiday gift amid colorful presents in a wood-paneled room.
A man with glasses sits beside four children around a table with books, looking toward the camera in a cozy room.
A multi-generational family sits together on a tan sofa in a retro living room, smiling at the camera; adults and children wearing plaid and knit outfits from the 1970s.
Two elderly people sit close together on a patterned sofa in a cozy living room, holding drinks and smiling at the camera; a table with decorations sits in front of them.
Smiling woman and man sit together, wearing matching gray sweatshirts that read 'UW Oshkosh' with 'Mom' and 'Dad' below the text.
Man in suit and tie seated with four smiling kids in a retro diner booth.
Older couple embracing beside a decorated Christmas tree with lights and gifts underneath.
Four people sit and lean on a bed in pajamas, smiling for a casual photo in a cozy bedroom.
A large dark brown bison lying down on dry grass, facing left, with short horns visible.
Family of five in formal black attire posing outside a brick house with a red SUV visible in the open garage.
Man in a light blue polo stands at a kitchen island, handling a blue canister on the counter in front of him.
Two smiling children hug a person in a Santa suit at a doorway, with a festive garland nearby.
Three people sit close together on a sofa smiling at the camera: a grandmother in a pastel rainbow sweater, a young woman in a Spider-Man shirt, and a grandfather in a light sweater.
Three people pose for a photo at a recital hall; the center woman holds a bouquet while performers stand on stage in the background.
Smiling elderly couple seated closely at a dining table, woman in a red sweater with snowflake design and glasses, man in a patterned gray sweater with glasses beside her.
Group of fans posing for a photo at a baseball stadium with green seating and the field visible in the background.
A man with glasses sits at a table, holding a young girl and a baby with a pacifier, in a cozy home setting.
Smiling elderly couple standing side by side outdoors in front of a brick wall; man in a light blue polo, woman in a floral dress.
Grandfather, father, and two smiling girls seated together on a couch for a family photo.
Three people pose for a photo at a social event: a smiling girl in a cream blouse with a patterned vest and red skirt, holding a water bottle, flanked by a man with glasses and a gray-haired man in a dark sweater.
Smiling elderly woman in a striped cardigan leaning over a couch behind a seated man and two girls on either side of him on a sofa indoors.
Four men posing in a kitchen, smiling, with tools and a fan in hand, suggesting a casual gathering or project time.
Bride in white wedding dress holding a colorful bouquet, standing beside a suited man in a dark suit and red tie at a doorway indoors.
Bride in a white lace wedding dress holding a colorful bouquet, smiling beside an older man in a dark suit with a red boutonniere and tie.
Young boy and an older man with shaving cream on their faces, smiling in a bathroom with towels nearby.
Two men stand in a backyard pool, smiling with their arms around each other; an evergreen tree and green yard behind them.
Three people sit on a porch bench outside a brick house: grandfather in blue polo, smiling girl in plaid, father in dark shirt with logo and shorts, all smiling at the camera.
A young woman in an orange shirt stands beside an older man who sits and rests his arm around her, smiling softly indoors.
An older man sits on a brown sofa with two smiling young girls, a woman in red leaning over the back of the sofa behind them.
Two young women pose on a porch chair while an older couple looks out from a window behind them.
Three people posing for a birthday photo, wearing colorful party hats and smiling indoors.
Close-up portrait of an older man with gray hair and glasses wearing a blue jacket and plaid shirt
Send Flowers Plant a Tree
Visitation
Ridgewood Church
2720 Lilly Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Map
Friday 7/24, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Service
Ridgewood Church
2720 Lilly Road
Brookfield, WI 53005
Map
Friday 7/24, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Cemetery
Wisconsin Memorial Park
13235 West Capitol Drive
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005
Map
Friday 7/24

Burial to follow service at Wisconsin Memorial Park.

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Treu, Benno June 21, 1935 – July 18, 2026 Born into eternal life on Saturday, July 18th, 2026, at 91 years old. Loving husband of Hanne for 49 years. Cherished father of Tina Maier (Jerry), Martin Treu (Aly), Diana Treu, Lisa Kartos (Drew). Treasured grandfather to Charlotte and Addie Maier, River Kartos, and Henry Wendler.Continue Reading

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Dan and Angie Rohloff, Carla Rohloff and Heidi Deen left a message on July 23, 2026:
Dearest Tante Hanne, With love and heartfelt condolences.
John & Kimberly Antoszak left a message on July 22, 2026:
May God's peace & love surround you during this difficult time. Heaven has gained a beautiful soul, and they are now resting in eternal peace.
Country Basket Blooms was purchased for the family of Benno Treu by John & Kimberly Antoszak. Send Flowers
Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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