Serving Country, Serving Community

The Muskego VFW Post has been in existence since 1959, and was named for two local veterans who served in World War II, but both died within 10 years after coming home. The current roster of members is smaller than the robust group that signed up, and Post Commander Dennis Duran said the future is uncertain if more younger men do not opt to join.

The VFW is open to any veteran that has served overseas in eligible campaigns and provides its members with various assistance, benefits and support. 

Who are Lembezeder and Cook?

Although Allen Lembezeder was born and grew up in Milwaukee, the  Lembezeder family's summer cottage was on Little Muskego Lake, which was converted to a year round home in 1938. Lembezeder enlisted in the army at the age of 32 in 1943 (he was nicknamed 'the old man') and served with the 125th Engineer's Combat battalion and also 555th Ordnance company.  He served in Germany, France, Luxembourg and England.

Lembezeder returned in April 1946, homesick for deer, pheasant and duck hunting, and for his dog Butch. He never married, and in civilian life he was a machinist and continued to live in Muskego after the war.   He was killed in an auto accident in 1953.

Finley Kingston Cook enlisted in the Navy while in college at the University 'extension' in Milwaukee.  After boot camp at Great Lakes, he went to New London, CT, for training as a submariner.  He was assigned to the Pacific Theatre aboard the USS Eurayle for the duration of the war.

A fall during his service yeilded a lump on his thigh, which was initially ignored.  Once home, it was finally checked and determined to be cancerous.  Despite surgery to remove the lump, Cook died from the disease in 1948.

The group's earliest activities included a 'donkey basketball game,' held at the Muskego High School gym, and the sponsoring of "Country Fair Days," held on the site where the Pick n Save plaza is now.