Obituary: Bartley Lee Munson

Nov. 5, 1937 – Dec. 19, 2018

Bartley Lee Munson, 81, of Milwaukee and of formerly Sturgeon Bay, died peacefully at Lawlis Family Hospice in Mequon, Wisconsin.

He was born in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Roy and Madonna (Anderson) Munson. Bart graduated from Rockford East High School in 1955. He earned his B.B.A. in actuarial science from UW-Madison in 1959. On January 25, 1959, he married Celeste A. Boyer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockford.

They moved to Hartford, Connecticut, for Bart’s employment for a few years before moving to Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1962, where he worked as an actuary for Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent). Bart was the 1985-86 president of the American Academy of Actuaries. He eventually became a partner at Mercer Consulting before continuing as an actuarial consultant focused on long-term-care insurance.

Bart and Celeste were active members of every community where they lived, often focusing on supporting the arts and helping maintain thriving communities. Bart was the essence of altruism: taking an elderly neighbor out for ice cream once a week, driving friends to medical appointments, and stopping to help people on the roadside when their cars broke down.

His care for neighbors and strangers was surpassed only by his deep commitment and love for his family. Above all, he put his family first, always giving 100 percent of his time, energy and resources to making sure his family felt loved and cared for.

Surviving are his wife, Celeste, of Milwaukee; three children, Steve (Kim) Munson of Frederick, Maryland, Jeff (Karen) Munson of Brookfield, Wisconsin, Michael (Loree) Munson of Milwaukee; four grandchildren, Kirsten, Derek, Michael, Kai; and one brother, Bruce (Barbara) Munson of Ames, Iowa.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Madonna Munson; and his nephew, Erik Munson.

A celebration of Bart’s life will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 11 am, at Hope United Church of Christ, 141 S. 12th Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. Visitation will be on March 23 at the church, 10-11 am.

Memorials may be made to Hope United Church of Christ.

Expressions of sympathy, memories and photos of Bart can be shared through his tribute page at huehnsfuneralhome.com.