I worked with Mike on several land purchases for the DNR and on fish marsh agreements. Mike was extremely knowledgeable on land purchases and very friendly and professional with the public. Mike's conservation legacy will be enjoyed by generations. Mike will be missed.

Mike Young (Friend retired Warden ) 2026-04-01 09:55:45

God Bless you Mike. You were a true friend and gentle soul. I relish all of the memories from the many years tagging sturgeon with you and Dan on the Wolf River. So many good days and wonderful times together. Rest in peace Mike. Ron Bruch

Ron Bruch (Friend and Co-Sturgeon Worker) 2026-04-01 08:03:05

So very sad to hear Mike has gone from us. He was a quality human being in all aspects. I came to know him as the long-time Chairman of our Lakes Committee who was a walking book on water quality/conservation and fish stocks. He will be sorely missed. His leadership was not only vital, he cannot be replaced. Thanks Mike. Without a doubt, the Good Lord was very pleased with you and the life you lead. Bless You.

Kenneth Wellens (Co-Member on River Pines Condo Lakes Cmte) 2026-03-31 12:27:55

A good man gone; so very sorry to hear of Michael’s passing. We treasure our shared time with Micheal and his siblings during summer visits on Shawano Lake. Fun stories and memories! Dad will sure miss Micheal’s emails and visits. Rest in peace, Michael; you made a difference! My family’s thoughts and prayers are with his family. ??

Jean Nachtwey Solis (Cousin) 2026-03-30 13:32:53

I will really miss my dear friend Mike. While working for DNR, we volunteered and worked together on many work related dinners and family picnics. Mike always made sure there was plenty of food for everyone, Mike made it fun. After retirement, we both volunteered at the Weidner Center and shortly after Mike became a floor manager. Mike always went above and beyond in signing up for many events. While he was a hard worker, there was plenty of time for fishing and get togethers with retired friends. Mike helped stock fish at his condo association as well as monitoring the water quality there. Mike was truly a quality person who gave up much of his time helping others. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Peggy Beaumier (Friend) 2026-03-29 15:02:58

Mike was a good friend and mentor to me. He taught me many things including how to be a land agent for DNR. He invited me along on several trips to Isle Royale that left wonderful memories. Mike was truly a great guy.

Phil Lepinski (Friend and Coworker) 2026-03-29 10:38:50

Rest in peace Michael, you'll be missed. Cousin Michael was my nature buddy! We bonded through sharing images and stories about wildlife and the great outdoors. We also had an occasional lunch along with Dad, which provided a great opportunity to stay in touch. He always had something kind to say no matter the circumstances, a true gentleman.

Joseph Nachtwey (Cousin) 2026-03-29 07:23:13

Michael was my cousin and my godfather. He was a kind, solid, gentle and thoughtful man. He never missed a birthday wish and always took the time to send an email, especially to my dad, and those simple notes and interesting stories will be greatly missed. He brought the best sweet corn to our family reunions in Shawano. My dad and I were fortunate to have a quick supper with Michael about a month ago and catch up a bit and talk about some old times. I remember he loved to play cards when we would visit Grandma. My sincere condolences to the Penning family. Rest in peace, Michael.

Kathy (Nachtwey) Frank (Cousin & Goddaughter) 2026-03-28 23:07:39

Thoughts and prayers to the Penning family. You will be missed, Michael.

Julie (Nachtwey) and Frank Walsh (Cousin) 2026-03-28 16:38:22

Good memories with Dan & Mike at Quinney registration during sturgeon fishing....also enjoyed his good eats !!! RIP mike

Ken & Judy Karls (Friend) 2026-03-27 16:16:44

God Bless you Michael ????

Bruce Nachtwey (Cousin ) 2026-03-27 14:19:26

I frequently had the pleasure of seeing Mike when I would come to the Green Bay District Office or he was in the field working with the Sturgeon program. He always had a smile and pleasant word to share. Condolences to his family.

Winter S Hess (Co-Worker at DNR) 2026-03-27 12:56:06

So sorry to hear about the passing of Mike. He was an enthusiastic worker and when I was assigned to Green Bay in 1975, I was the only field warden stationed in Brown county. Shortly thereafter I talked Mike into getting Special Warden credentials. Probably the most memorable event with Mike during my 5 years there was when I had a new trainee and Mike was driving my NEW squad. He dropped us off at a suspected Northern spearing location to check out the flooded ditch in Suamico about 9 pm and parked about a mile away. The trainee and I worked our way across a field and by chance"jumped"a spearer in the act with a bag of fish and a spear. The chase was on and the bag of fish was dropped and the trainee stayed with the fish. I was in hip boots, full gear of the day, a flashlight and a handheld portable radio. I chased this spearer across the field, jumped a ditch, down a road, and was not gaining any ground. While chasing, I radioed Mike in the squad, told him of the chase and told him to head south on the road he was parked on. I heard the squad start with the air filter cover flipped sucking air, and as he came up behind me, I jumped on the hood, grabbed the back of the hood and Mike proceeded to chase the spearer in the headlights down the blacktop a short distance. I did a flying tackle(part of our training, ha ha) and ended the one mile chase. Mike's eyes were pretty big as I gasped for air. While I was in pretty good shape in my late 20's, it turns out the spearer was a track star at the local high school!!! Hard to beat a squad car on the road, he should have stayed in the field/woods and he may have escaped??? I felt a wisk of water on my face when chasing this spearer across the field in the dark and when going back to get my trainee and the bag of fish, I found the spear in the tall grass. He had thrown the spear backwards at me and it just missed my face, never saw it. Fond memories and a career/ friendship well done MIKE!!!

Patrick Harkins (Local Warden/ Friend) 2026-03-27 09:13:04

Very sorry for your loss

Randy Bratz (Freind) 2026-03-27 04:02:24

I worked with Michael for a few years at the Weidner. Very pleasant man, knew what he was talking about, and did his job well. You will be truly missed! Gods speed.

Roxy Michiels (co-volunteer) 2026-03-26 13:41:02

Going to miss seeing your smile and enthusiasm for life and the great outdoors.

Tom Hansen (Co-worker & friend) 2026-03-26 08:10:25

Mike was a good man and a dear friend. There will be a void in many of our hearts with his passing. His smile was always present and infectious. His impact on the state of Wisconsin cannot be measured. You will be missed buddy. Our Shawano lunch group will miss you

Ron Kazmierczak (Friend and coworker ) 2026-03-25 19:55:29

Mike has left a huge legacy for future people who will never know him. Mike was responsible for acquiring conservation lands in Wisconsin that will remain in a natural condition well past our life times.

Mark Beilfuss (DNR co- worker) 2026-03-25 17:34:25

My condolences to the family, Michael will be missed by the Weidner family

Renee Lewis (Friend) 2026-03-25 15:27:54

When I transfered from Fisheries to Facilities and Lands Mike was a great mentor. Good friend.

Jim Tomasko (Friend and co-worker.) 2026-03-25 14:08:23

Mike was always a pleasure to work with! The crew at the Weidner will very much miss him. Sympathies to family and friends.

Carla &Andrew Marquardt (Team member@ the Weidner) 2026-03-25 12:47:41

my sympathy on mikie's passing. we had many escapades on the farm and on the ice.

Roger Roehrig (friend) 2026-03-25 12:13:14

I had the pleasure of working closely with Mike for over twenty years. Not only was he one of the hardest working people I’ve ever known but, more importantly he was kind, patient, giving of himself and an ardent lover and protector of Wisconsin’s great outdoors. He will be missed by many.

Gary D Hanson (Friend ) 2026-03-25 11:59:58

Michael was the oldest cousin on our mom's side, the ring bearer in our parents wedding (with Nancy as the flower girl of course). He was already a teenager when we were young and spending summers on Aunt Jean and Uncle Mike's farm in Chilton. He was always there. Never visited Chilton without seeing Michael. A solid man with a good heart. Our sympathies to Nancy and Terry and all of the family.

Chris Schomisch Moravec (cousin) 2026-03-25 11:04:10

Quiet, unassuming, and almost always a smile on his face. He loved the outdoors and was committed to doing his part to protect and conserve the very things that brought him joy. Always a pleasure to be with and his passing leaves the ranks of “really nice people” one member short.

Larry Kriese (Co-worker) 2026-03-25 10:51:43

We have worked with Michael at the Weidner and always enjoyed our many conversations. He will be missed by all! Our deepest sympathy to his family!

Roger and Karen Klapper (Friends from the Weidner ) 2026-03-25 10:49:07

Mike was my first floor manager at the Weidner and he was so awesome helping us rookies. Always enjoyed our fishing and outdoor talks before shows. We will all miss him a lot at the Weidner Keeping him and his family in my thoughts and prayers.

Mary Capelle (Friend) 2026-03-25 10:08:57

I was so blessed to have worked with Mike at DNR. I learned much from him. I missed him so when he retired, but we stayed in touch through cards and emails. He is one of the best people I ever met. Rest in peace dear friend.

Jean Romback Bartels (Friend) 2026-03-25 09:27:25

Sorry to hear of the passing of Micheal lots of memories during sturgeon spearing, all the good food he cooked on the grill on the lake for us and his co workers. Good times to remember.

Bruce alten (Friend) 2026-03-25 06:42:15

Mike made a lot of friends at the DNR. I was one of them. We had a chance to work on some Lake projects after we both retired. I'm going to miss him.

Tim Rasman (Co-Worker) 2026-03-25 06:16:03

I did not know Michael well, having grown up in Cleveland and not seeing our many cousins much ( my mom Laurie was his mom Jean’s sister). I remember my mom always talking about him so fondly growing up. He was very special to her and thus holds special memories. When I did see him on visits to Wisconsin or family reunions he was so kind and sweet, always going out of his way to help. My two adult sons were driving through Wisconsin in the heart of the pandemic and he offered to meet them in Chilton and have lunch, show them the sites. Never having met them, that was amazing. I know you lived a meaningful life Michael! Rest in peace and say hi to all the Nachtweys in heaven ????

Mary Shafer (Cousin ) 2026-03-25 05:41:54

Going to miss a lot of things we did together..; Hunting, Fishing, BS ing, and having fun.

Kurt (Kip) Pagel (Good Friend) 2026-03-24 21:09:04

Thinking of all of you. Mike was very special to me, my dad and mom. My visits to Green Bay won't be quite the same. Wishing you peace and comfort during this difficult time.

Julie (Pagel) Rogers (Friend via father Kip Pagel) 2026-03-24 21:02:58

I am so sorry for your loss. Hugs sent to all

Sandy Dietz (Family friend ) 2026-03-24 17:28:07

I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of Michael. I have known and worked with him for the past four years as a floor manager at the Weidner Center. He was a joy to be with, I appreciated hearing stories of his childhood and career. I am a better person for having known Michael Penning.

Gail Eichhorn (Co-worker at the Weidner Center) 2026-03-24 16:47:44