Gregory F. Muskat
Monona – Gregory F. Muskat, age 89, of Monona passed away peacefully on Monday, January 4, 2016. He was born on December 3, 1926, on a farm on Gammon Road in what was then the Town of Middleton, the first child of I. Leo and Mary E. (Brunner) Muskat. At the time of his birth, Greg’s parents were tenant farmers. During the Great Depression, the family moved several times to farms in Cross Plains, Middleton, and Martinsville until moving to Madison in 1936 when his father became a refrigeration mechanic. Greg attended Blessed Sacrament School and Edgewood High School, paying his own tuition by working as a paperboy, a grocery clerk, and a janitor. After graduating from Edgewood in 1944, he attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison before being drafted into World War II. Greg served in the US Navy from January 1945 to August 1946. After the war, Greg returned to the UW and studied Accounting, graduating with a BBA in 1949. While attending the UW, Greg met the love of his life, Mary J. Barger, on a blind date at an Edgewood College dance. Greg and Mary were married on June 17, 1950, at Holy Mother of Consolation Church, Oregon. Greg and Mary started their family while living on the east side of Madison and eventually purchased their home in Monona in 1957. Greg began his accounting career at the State of Wisconsin, taking inventories at highway departments around the state. In 1951 Greg joined Ohio Chemical as a junior accountant at its Madison manufacturing plant. While there, Greg developed the company’s first computerized data processing systems. Greg worked closely with IBM until the technology was mature enough for Ohio to risk the purchase of its first IBM mainframe, which it did in 1962. In recognition of Greg’s work obtaining that first computer, he was promoted to Controller of Ohio Chemical in 1963. As the company grew to become Ohio Medical Products, Greg rose through the ranks, becoming vice-president of manufacturing and distribution in 1970. Greg left Ohio Medical in 1972 when his position was eliminated in a corporate reorganization. In 1973 Greg became Chief Financial Officer of Klein Industries in Baraboo, Wisconsin. In 1981 Greg left Klein for a similar position at Gibco Diagnostics in Madison. When Gibco was sold in the late 1980s, Greg joined Capitol Indemnity Corporation as a systems analyst. Having worked all his life, Greg was reluctant to retire at age 65, and when asked, he continued working part time at Capitol Indemnity until the early 2000s. Greg and his parents were charter members of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Madison. During their married life together, Greg and Mary were members of St Raphael’s in Madison, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monona, St. Paul’s University Catholic Center in Madison, St. Bernard’s in Madison, and St. Dennis in Madison.
Greg is survived by his wife, Mary of Monona, three daughters, Deborah Muskat of Monona, Sharon Hennessey of Tomah, and Jeanne Engerman of Madison; a son, David (Lynn) Muskat of Madison; five grandsons, Kevin (Sarah) Hennessey of West Salem, Brian (Jessica) Hennessey of Tomah, Michael (Laura) Engerman of Chicago, Illinois, Stephen Engerman and Reid Muskat of Madison; five great grandchildren; four siblings, Mary (Ross) Warne of Appleton, Isabelle Berg of Madison, Ralph (Dona) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Roger of Madison; seven sisters-in-law; six brothers-in-law; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Besides his parents, Greg was preceded in death by an infant brother, Raphael, one sister in-law, and four brothers in-law.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 South Owen Drive, Madison, at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 11, 2016, with Monsignor Ken Fiedler presiding. Burial will follow immediately in Resurrection Cemetery in Madison. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Memorials can be made to St. Mary’s Adult Day Health Center, 2440 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Joanna and Melanie from Agrace HospiceCare, and Greg’s other devoted caregivers: Mary, Kelly, John, Cody, Elizabeth, Josh, Nicole, Eleni, Andres, Kim, Connor, Pat, and Jody.
Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-3434
