Willi J. Lehner, age 82, of Monroe, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2011 at his daughter's home, in Browntown, with his family at his side. He was born July 18, 1928 in Luzern, Switzerland the son of Hans and Lena Lehner. He learned his cheese making skills in Switzerland & immigrated to Canada in 1949, where he worked on an Amish farm and later moved to Barneveld, WI where he began his cheese making career at Barneveld Creamery. A few years later he became manager at Ryser Bros Cheese Company in Mt Horeb, where worked for 20 years. In 1979 he took over Valley View Cheese Company in South Wayne, WI with his son, Hans & son-in-law, Jim Meives. In 1985 he was instrumental in the beginning of Chula Vista Cheese Company.

Willi and Mary Felix were married in 1953 in Horw, Switzerland and they had 6 children, Willi, Hans, Peter, Mary, Thomas, & Heidi. Willi later married Susan Lazarcitz in 1984 & had a son, Seppi. For the last 12 years he lived in Monroe with partner, Charlotte Nelson. He passionately travelled around the world with an enthusiasm to learn from other cultures, often finding beauty in the mundane over the prestigious. He was a member of St. Victor Catholic Church and Swiss Club at Turner Hall in Monroe.

Surviving are his partner, Charlotte Nelson; sons, Willi (Kitas McKnight) Lehner, Hans (Denise) Lehner, & Seppi (Tatiana Brovko) Lehner; daughters, Mary (Jim) Meives & Heidi (Chris) Fannin; 9 Grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Debra Lehner; sisters, Pia and Therese and a brother, Joseph.He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Tommy in 1993 & Peter in 2009; sisters, Margareteh, Beatrice, Heidi, Marlisse and a brother, Hans.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe with A Celebration of Willi's Life at 7 p.m.

The family wishes to express a heartfelt "Thank You" to Monroe Clinic Hospice and Willi's sister, Therese for their amazing care.