Bruno Sharkus

At 98, Bruno passed to reunite with his wife of 45 years on Saturday, January 30. He lived a long life of overcoming hardship and service. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois in Morgan Park, a good Lithuanian community. His mom died while he was an infant. His dad, a barkeep, remarried Anna. He was studying chemical engineering at the University of Chicago, when during WWII he was drafted as a munitions expert. He was wounded loading bombs. That injury would send him to a Scottish hospital for the final 18 months of the war. He returned to the States and bought the Northwestern Hotel with his dad in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. For years the Chicago Northwestern Train would stop in Lake Geneva bringing commuters to/from the city right next to the Hotel, until it burned to the ground in an electrical fire in 1960. Bruno had already met and married a spunky, bright spirited Patricia Louise Keenan and started their family of 2 infants by that time of the historic fire. To repay all the loans to rebuild the burnt building that today houses Bruno's Liquor store and Aunt Vickie's Cafe, Bruno and Pat started many small businesses as owners of Pink Isle-the popular night club in the 60's, laundromats, Lake Geneva Dive Shop, a cleaners, Bruno's excavation, a farm, and rentals. He raised 5 kids, with Pat until her passing in 2001, and is survived by all of them: Kat Haber (Kathy Sharkus), Edward Sharkus, James Sharkus, Elizabeth Moslander (Liz Sharkus), Jon Sharkus. His grandchildren are Calley and Justin Sharkus, Lexi Sharkus,Mercedes and Samantha Sharkus (deceased), McKenzy Haber, Oni Belisle, Emma and Erin Moslander. His great grandchildren include Jay and Will Belisle, and Jaxon Sharkus. Great-great grandsons are Loyalty Kevin Ciardo and Jax Belisle. Messages received from the thousands of fans of this "Icon of Lake Geneva" include: "He still had that awareness observant look in his eyes to the connection to life. Important. Joyous. Fun. Expanding. If anyone "do it now" comported their life, it was Pat & Bruno." "Bruno always reached out a hand to help people in his sphere to climb out of a pit. And!! Expected no recompense other than live a better life." "I loved sitting in his office overlooking the store, solving the world's problems with him." "Of Lake Geneva's legendary patriarch, imagine the joy of those who passed before him when Bruno showed up to the party. ❤️" "Wow, a true Lake Geneva legend. Seems like everyone in town bought something at BRUNO's at some point. Great memories." Private services were held, and Bruno will be interred at the Lithuanian National Cemetery in a private ceremony. We thank Aurora Hospice at Home for their compassion and rapid response. Donations may be offered in his name at Aurora Health Care Foundation, 950 N. 12th Street, Suite A511, Milwaukee, WI 53233 (thankyou@aurora.org). Lazarczyk Family Funeral Homes, Steinke Chapel of Lake Geneva, is proudly serving the family. Service Details.