Eugene (Gene) Walter Brotzman, age 82, passed away at VA Hospice on Monday, October 21, 2013, surrounded by his family and friends. He was born on April 5, 1931 in Durand, Wisconsin. He attended elementary school at Springcreek rural school south of Durand. With no school bus available, Gene moved to Alma, joining his two sisters who were in teacher training. After two years at Alma High, he returned home to attend Durand High for his last two years. He rode to school with a neighbor lad, Howard Golden. Gene then attended Buffalo County Normal School at Alma. Upon graduation from the two year college in 1951, certified to teach grades 1 through 8, he accepted a rural school teaching job at Church Valley School at Urne.


Like the careers of many other young men, this first job was interrupted by the draft. Gene then attended basic training as a medic at Fort Meade, MD, followed by training as a dental technician at Fort Sam Houston, TX. During Gene's short furlough before being sent to the battle zone of Korea, he married his classmate, Dorris Irene Nelson. He then did not get to see his new bride for one and a half years. Dorris and Gene raised three boys, Daniel (Ruby) of Tigerton, Randy (Karen) of Stevens Point, and David (Kim) of Putnam, CT.


Upon returning from Korea, Gene took a teaching job at Fairview School at Fountain City, WI. He then took a two year job as teaching principal at Urne, WI, south of Durand. To further his career, he took a teaching principal job at Eagleville School at Eagle, WI in Waukesha County. He then, having completed his Master's degree at UW Milwaukee, took a job as principal at Edgerton Elementary for fourteen years. During this time, Gene's wife died of cancer in 1978 so Gene left the school business for awhile. He worked as Safety Director for Neuendorf Transportation Company of Madison. That company was sold so Gene took a principal job at Wisconsin Heights High School, retiring in 1991. In 1979, Gene married Barbara Hoyum of Janesville. They have been happily married for 34 years.


During his career, Gene served as president of many different professional organizations, was frequently asked to give talks, teach courses, and consult professionally. The University of Whitewater, along with his Wisconsin Educators Association were frequent callers on his services. Gene taught a course to teachers from several school districts called Adventures in Attitudes. He authored a book "The Mystery of the Missing Classic" in 2010, of which, hundreds of copies have been sold. Gene was a member of the Edgerton and Mazomanie Lions Clubs and the Wisconsin Retirement Educators Association.


He is survived by his wife, Barbara; three children, Daniel (Ruby), Randall (Karen), and David (Kim); 5 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 4 siblings, Dorothy Lewis, Lois Everson, LeRoy (Paula) Brotzman, and Jacquelyn Christner; other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, George and James Brotzman.


A funeral service will be held at the SAUK PRAIRIE COMMUNITY CENTER, 730 Monroe St., Sauk City, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2013. Burial will be at 2:30p.m. on Saturday at Fasset Cemetery, Edgerton. Friends may call at HOOVERSON FUNERAL HOME, 251 Water St., Sauk City, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2013 and also at the Community Center on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.