Martin "Mitch" Mitchell Pomplun

Martin “Mitch” Pomplun, age 65, of Oshkosh, went on to his heavenly home on Sunday, May 7. Born to Martin and Rose Pomplun on October 19, 1951, Mitch graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1969 and was a lifelong Oshkosh resident. As a young adult, Mitch loved good music and fast cars—especially Dodge Chargers. He loved singing and playing in the band “Sound Control” for several years and was proud to have had a song that rose to #3 on the local Top 40 charts. He worked hard his whole life in a variety of jobs—from being a foundry worker, to owning his own sport and fishing shop, to landscaping, to operating a printing press and driving a forklift and a whole lot of odd jobs in between. Some of his favorite activities included hunting and fishing, especially bow hunting. Sitting in a tree stand on a cold, crisp fall morning waiting for that elusive buck or sitting in a boat fishing for walleye were two of his favorite places to be. Mitch always enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends, whether it was playing cards, shaking dice or having too much fun and getting into trouble at deer camp. He was a lifelong “Packer Backer,” even through the rotten years, but one of his favorite Packer memories was celebrating at Lambeau Field the night they won Super Bowl XXXI. As a single dad for more than half of his daughters’ lives, he worked incredibly hard and made sacrifice upon sacrifice to provide for them and keep their family home. From the time they were born they were always his pride and joy, his everything. And after his girls had grown and began families of their own, watching his grandchildren grow, play and search for hidden packages of M&Ms around his house remained his greatest source of joy for the last years of his life.
Mitch is survived by his life partner of 13 years, his “sweetie,” Christine Hanke; his two daughters, Kim (Andy) Grafenauer and Chrissy (Brandon) Boe, and step-daughter Keri (Jason) Rentmeester; sisters Susan (Keith) Lorenz and Sheryl (Dewey) Bathke and brother Russell (Lanette) Pomplun; his last remaining uncle, Butch (Patsy) Pomplun; his five beloved grandchildren James, Olivia Joy and Amelia Grafenauer and Wyatt and Ethan Rentmeester, as well as many aunts, nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial service for Mitch will take place on Friday, May 12th at 4pm at the Richford Community Center in Richford, WI. After the memorial service, family and friends are invited to Johann’s Bar & Grill to share stories and laughter and enjoy a final round of drinks where Mitch is buying. In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a scholarship fund for his grandchildren.
Mitch was much loved by those who knew him and he will be dearly missed, but the stories, the memories and his legacy will live on always.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, “Wow! What a ride!” –Hunter S. Thompson