Manuel "Manny" O. Moreno, Jr., 70, of Watertown, passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at home after ongoing chronic health issues.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church (W359 N8512 Brown St. Oconomowoc, WI) at 12:00 p.m. with Fr. Yamid Blanco officiating. Relatives and friends may gather at Hafemeister Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church until the time of the service. Burial will follow the service at the parish cemetery. Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Watertown is serving the family. Online condolences may be left at www.HafemeisterFH.com.

Manny was born on October 2, 1954 at Great Lakes Naval Base in Chicago to Carmen (Gonzales) and Manuel O. Moreno, Sr. His family moved to Glendale, CA when he was 8 years old and he graduated from Glendale High School in 1972.

He married Maureen McConville on April 22, 1989 at St. Henry Catholic Church in Watertown. Together they have 3 sons: Manuel Moreno, Anthony (Cailyn) Moreno, Patrick (fiance Amber Lillge) Moreno; grandson, Mason Moreno; sister, Emy (Larry) Parks; niece, Kristen (Chris) Bon; nephew, Jonathan Parks; niece, Shanyn Parks; In-laws: Joan McConville (Chris) Rita McConville, John (Shirley) McConville; their children: Andrew (Kali) McConville, Joel McConville and Nicole McConville (TJ); as well as other relatives and friends.

Manny was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Teresa and Joe McConville.

After settling in Watertown Manny was a new car salesman in the Milwaukee area for many years and more recently worked at LKQ as a marketing representative until he retired in 2015. When Maureen opened her flower shop, he was all in with his support of her especially during the Wine Walk. You would find him stationed at the front door ready to greet the walkers and checking their wristbands as they came in.

Manny had a love for baseball. He played catcher in Little League and continued to play in high school and community college. He attended Professional Umpire School in Los Angeles taught by big league umpires. He had many jobs including as a chauffeur and bodyguard in L.A. for numerous TV and movie stars. He also worked for many bands in the early 80's; Chicago was his favorite.

Manny was also a member of the Glendale Jaycees. A volunteer organization whose focus was to work on community projects, raise funds for charitable causes. Their chapter sponsored parades, pageants and the annual haunted house on Halloween along with many other projects. After serving as president of the chapter, he moved up the ranks eventually taking a position at their national headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he worked with the International branch. In that capacity he visited Australia and England.

He started coaching baseball for the Watertown Park & Rec. when his sons were little and loved it. In later years, he resumed umpiring semi-pro baseball games and made two trips to Cooperstown, NY to umpire at Dreams Park; a baseball summer camp for teams from across the country. He also coached through the American Legion league.



He was a fixture on Sunday mornings at St. Catherine's in his seat at the back of church while Maureen sang in the choir. That seat is empty now and he will be missed by many who knew and loved him.

Rev. michael Dennis Strachota

January 18, 1950-January 19, 2025

Fr. Mike Strachota, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and most recently the pastor of the clustered parishes of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Mapleton and St. Joan of Arc in Nashotah WI passed away on January 19, 2025, one day after his 75th birthday. He was surrounded by dear friends and prayed into his new life. He was the first-born son of Russell and Margaret Strachota who proceeded in in death.

Fr. Mike as he was affectionately known to the thousands of people of God, he served in his 45 years of priesthood was known for his dedication to his vocation, his extraordinary gift of preaching, serving the poor and life changing pastoral care. His call to priesthood evident in his childhood and stories are told about his “saying Mass” and writing homilies beginning in second grade. He loved being a priest and cherished his call to parish ministry. He was known for his Vatican II perspective and was honored to receive the Milwaukee Archdiocese Vatican II Award in 2021.

He began his journey to priesthood at Mount Calvary High School and spent several years in the Capuchin community before attending Marquette University and St. Francis De Sales Seminary. He was ordained on September 1, 1979, by Bishop Robert Morneau at St. Rita Church in West Allis.

His first assignment was as the associate pastor at St. Kilian’s in Hartford, WI. His next assignment was to the pastoral team at Our Lady of Lourdes in Milwaukee. Following that assignment, Fr. Mike  as named pastor at Corpus Christi in Milwaukee before becoming pastor at St. Joan of Arc in 2004.  during that pastorate Fr. Mike accepted becoming pastor at St. Catherine of Alexandria and formed the two parishes into a cluster. His leadership in a cluster became a model for other parishes.

Fr, Mike is survived by his six siblings: Mary Kay (Dewayne) Gasman, Dan Strachota, Tim (Debbie) Strachota, Jane (David) Menebroeker, Kevin Strachota, Tom (Nikki) Strachota. He was blessed with a large extended family of nieces and nephews and countless parishioners, and friends who became his family. And grieve the loss of this extraordinary man of God.

We would like to thank all those who took care of Fr. Mike during his long journey with health issues, especially Ellen Heitman, Susan Kuhlenbeck and Dr. Don and Bunny Wollheim. To the residents and staff at Heartis/Discovery Commons Assisted Living in Brookfield, thank you for embracing Fr. Mike and allowing him to continue his priestly ministry with his weekly Masses. He never lost his ability to preach and teach right up to his last days.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, January 24 at St. Catherine of Alexandria with visitation from 4-6:30 followed by Vigil Prayer at 7:00 pm. On Saturday, January 25 at St. Joan of Arc visitation is from 9-11:30 am with the Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 Noon. Please wear something red! Red was not only Fr. Mike’s favorite color, but it is also the color of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit by which Fr. Mike lived his life as priest and shepherd.

In lieu of flowers memorials to either St. Joan or St. Catherine are deeply appreciated. The Mass will be live streamed.

JOAN SHERMAN

(nee Samz) Muskego. Passed to Eternal Life Friday, December 13, 2024, age 88 years. Beloved wife of Philip. Dear mother of Steven (Angela) Sherman, William (Paula) Sherman, and Karen (Dan) Huegli. Cherished grandmother of Justin Sherman, Brendan Arnold, Ashley Sherman, Philip Sherman, Tyler Kehoe, and Turner Kehoe. Sister to 10 brothers and 12 sisters. Preceded in death by 2 brothers and 4 sisters. Also survived by 9 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation Saturday, February 1, 2025 at St. Joan of Arc Parish (120 Nashotah Rd., Nashotah) 11:30 AM until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30 PM. Private interment Wisconsin Memorial Park. Retired nurse at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Wounded Warrior Project or Fishers House appreciated.