Lamont R. Carpenter
Lamont Monty “Max” R. Carpenter, age 77, passed away on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at home in the presence of his wife and dogs.
He was born on July 25, 1944 in Campbellsport to the late Leon and Ida (Fritz) Carpenter.
Max graduated from Campbellsport High School in 1962 and enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX as a bandsman. He got transferred to the Philippine Islands and was stationed at Clark Air Force Base for 18 months. He was honorably discharged after serving his country while in the 213th Air Force Band. Max returned to Wisconsin in 1966 and was employed at Kiekhaefer Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac as shipping/receiving coordinator for 20 months during which time he married Ruth Weddig on September 9, 1967.
He left Wisconsin again to join Ruth during her active duty assignment in the United States Army Nurse Corps at Fort Hood/Killeen, TX.
He worked there at the PX assembling tricycles and bikes etc. and also delivered fertilizer (BS) to officers’ wives vehicles, (his favorite job). He completed photography correspondence courses during that time landing him a more desirable job, as chief photographer, at the Killeen Daily Herald. Upon Ruth’s discharge, they once again moved back to Wisconsin.
In the spring of 1970, he was hired by his future lifelong best friend Joe Karius, and began working at the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. In 1977, Max left newspaper work to continue his higher education at UW Stevens Point, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in instrumental music education K-12. Upon graduation, he accepted a job at Shullsburg Public Schools, teaching instrumental music for grades 5-12. In 2001, he accepted a job at New London Middle School, teaching grades 5-8 instrumental music, and developed their jazz band and Veterans Day memorial programs at the middle school. He “WAS” retired in 2010.
During all of this time, they enjoyed numerous vacations in their motor homes, on cruises, and organized two family / friends bus trips out east. Their travels also took them to all parts of the United States, attending retired Air Force Musicians Alumni Association Reunions for which he was historian for several years.
Their last excursion in the fall of 2019 was on Viking Ocean Cruiseline, sailing the St. Lawrence Seaway and Atlantic Ocean. Freezing his ass off in Canada and North East United States. While on a whale watching excursion, he was bundled up like an Eskimo and walked like a Samari!
His musical career also included being a member of Big Band Express in Dubuque, IA, the Fox Cities Bands; including Swing Time Big Band, The Happy Wanderers, Swinging Angels, and as of late the Neenah Ambassadors.
Max was also an avid Packer fan, spending one of his cruises with his wife, and Packers President/CEO Mark and Laurie Murphy. Mark gave Max his direct phone number but never seemed to pick up when the team was losing. LOL!
Max was on the Board of Directors for the South Wood County Humane Society and the Building Committee for the First Formal Animal Shelter built in Wisconsin Rapids in 1982.
Max was also a member of the American Legion Norris Spencer Post #263 of New London.
Max is survived by his wife, Ruth; his loyal companions, “Saint” Sophie, and pestering Basset Lucca; sister, Audrey Fuhrman of Sheboygan; aunt, Alice Carpenter of Campbellsport; and sister-in-law, Darleen Car – penter of Topeka, Kansas; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bill and Lynne Weddig of Fish Creek, Alice and Bob Krahn of Beechwood, and Ann and Bob Szalkowski of Mount Horeb; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by 11 Saint Bernards, three Basset Hounds; a brother, Leon Carpenter; brother-in-law, Merle Fuhrman; and an uncle, Quintin Carpenter; his mother- and father-in-law, Ruth and Otto Weddig.
Ruth and the dogs would like to thank all of his caregivers and doctors throughout his stays at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center Appleton and St. Elizabeth’s in Appleton, Fresenius Medical Center and Nephrology Partners in Neenah.
Max’s family will receive family and friends from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2022, followed by remembrance of Max with stories and music at 11 a.m.
Full military honors and Burial will be held at Central Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery King, Wisconsin on Wednesday, June 22, at 1 p.m.
Please direct any memorial offerings to the UW Stevens Point Foundation- fine arts music education department; the Neenah Ambassadors music scholarship fund; or the Humane Society of Waupaca Co.
Jazz isn’t dead, it just smells funny. Frank Zappa Cline and Hanson Funeral Home, 209 West Cook St. (POBox119), New London, WI 54961, 920-982-3232 www.clinehansonfuneralhome. com
