Cynthia A. Merkel

Cynthia Ann Merkel (nee Nachtman), longtime resident of Whitefish Bay, was called home to join her husband Robert (Bob) on Friday, January 20, 2023 at the age of 72.

Loving mother and stepmother of Matthew (Becky) Giunta, Ellen Giunta, Eric (Tami), Darin (Consuela), John (Aimee), and Craig (Denise) Merkel. Proud grandma of Luke, T.J., Lucy and Paul Giunta. Steven (Abbie), Melissa, Mila, and Aiden, and great-granddaughter Henley. Also loved by siblings Thomas (Deborah), James (Rosemary), Mary (Mark) Reder, other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by parents Bernard and Evelyn Nachtman and brother Joseph (Marilyn).

Cynthia was born on November 9, 1950 in Kansas City, Missouri.  The family moved around before settling in Bay Village, Ohio.  Cynthia attended Magnificat High School and graduated from Saint Louis University in 1972 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing.  She married and had two children, Matthew and Ellen, and eventually moved to Whitefish Bay.  Cynthia was greeted by the Kent Avenue family who welcomed them to Wisconsin and were always willing to provide advice, as many were parents of older children.  They clued her in on some unique Milwaukee traditions, such as celebrating St. Nicholas to avoid disappointed kids after hearing about such things at school.

Cynthia loved the time she spent with family on Lake Erie and visiting Cedar Point in the summers.  She traveled often to see her parents in Florida and enjoyed the visits to Napa Valley with her brother Joe and family.

Cynthia worked as a registered nurse for fourteen years at various facilities including the VA hospital in Milwaukee.  Her true callings were to be a homemaker, mother, and to live in service of others.  Cynthia was a co-Girl Scout troop leader, President of the Saint Monica’s Society, member of the Marthas and “funeral ladies.” She was a proud Duke Pride mom, organizing baseball banquets and grad night celebrations.  Cynthia also worked within the Whitefish Bay School District as a special education paraprofessional.  She loved this population; a perfect fit with her nursing background.

In 1999, Cynthia met Bob at a Catholic singles group at St. Stephen’s Church in Milwaukee and married in 2004.  They lived in Oak Creek until moving to Pewaukee in 2019.  Despite ongoing health concerns, they truly enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, often traveling to Florida and St. Louis.  The annual “Liver Dinner” gathering and birthday celebrations with Whitefish Bay friends were always a highlight .  

Grandma Cynthia, Gma, or aka G-Money will be sorely missed.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride in life.

The family would like to thank Dr. Howard Dubner, the University of Wisconsin Transplant Clinic, and the Froedtert Hospital’s Oncology and Nephrology departments for their excellent care over the past twenty years.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials to UW Organ and Tissue Donation Greatest Needs Fund  or St. Baldrick’s Foundation are appreciated.

Visitation will be held at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin on Friday, January 27, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Additional visitation will be held at Queen of Apostles Church, N35W23360 Capitol Drive, Pewaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Interment to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Pewaukee.