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Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Mr. “Musky” Oehmcke passed away
Sad news for Wisconsin fishing enthusiasts
I’ll let the Obituary notice speak for itself…….
His real name was Art Oehmcke. The nickname was a measure of respect for the man who, both professionally and in his own angling time, came as close as anyone to understanding the musky mind. "Without belaboring the point, it is reasonable to say that Oehmcke knows as much or more about muskies as a species as anyone, anywhere," wrote Jay Reed, the late outdoor writer for The Milwaukee Journal, in 1979. Years later, Reed broadened even that characterization. "They call him Mr. Musky now in these years after all the work has been done," according to Reed. "But it just as well could be Mr. Walleye or Mr. Bass or Mr. Bluegill." Oehmcke worked for the old Wisconsin Conservation Department and its successor, the state Department of Natural Resources.
Arthur A. Oehmcke died of natural causes Dec. 3 in Rice Lake. He was 93.
He grew up in the Milwaukee area, graduating from Wauwatosa High School and then the University of Wisconsin in Madison, with a major in plant ecology.
From 1941 to 1969, he directed the Woodruff Hatchery, specializing in musky propagation. That was just one of the subjects in "The Woodruff Hatchery Story," which he wrote in retirement. Oehmcke was instrumental in developing the state's musky program, including helping to design the Woodruff hatchery. Features included automatic temperature control, then a first. "He was responsible for management of 4,000 lakes and 4,000 miles of trout streams in northeastern Wisconsin from 1941 to 1969," according to information from the Oehmcke family.
Oehmcke was promoted to higher administrative posts - read desk jobs for a guy who liked to fish - last working as director of the DNR's northwest district in Spooner. He retired in 1978 after 41 years
The occasion was a chance for a little more fishing, according to Don L. Johnson, the late outdoor writer for the Milwaukee Sentinel.
"Art talks a lot," Johnson wrote. "He reels off fascinating facts about muskies; recalls times he was called upon to guide such famous anglers as Gypsy Rose Lee, Edward R. Murrow, Ted Williams, the crown prince of Norway.
"He talked to the fish, too."
"C'mon Esox masquinongy immaculatus!" Oehmcke would say. "BITE!"
Oehmcke was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, the National Fish Culture Hall of Fame, and the Muskies, Inc., Hall of Fame. In 1994, the Woodruff Hatchery was renamed the Art Oehmcke State Fish Hatchery in his honor.
Oehmcke is survived by Cora Oehmcke, his wife of 64 years and favorite fishing partner. Other survivors include nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held Saturday at United Methodist Church in Spooner.
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