Weissgerber's Gasthaus

Our family is very fortunate and proud to have shared, at least in a small way , in the American Dream, starting with nothing and accomplishing more than we had dared to hope for we are grateful for your loyal support an invite you to enjoy fine dining in the Weissgerber Tradition. From the Weissgerbers Third Street Pier Menu. Many Milwaukee area r... esidents have savored a splendid meal at the Third Street Pier, the Seven Seas on Lake Nagawicka, the Golden Mast on Okauchee Lake or the Gasthaus in Waukesha. Some have enjoyed the Milwaukee River dining on the Edelweiss Plaza. But few are familiar with the story behind these prestigious dining establishments, particularly the five-foot matriarch who preserved the Weissgerber family during World War II. You may have been warmly greeted by her at the Golden Mast, where she is often hostess. Perhaps youve heard her sing Edelweiss at the Weissgerbers annual Oktoberfest. Maria Weissgerber, 71, is a woman of poise dignity and Gemutlichkeit. Dressed exquisitely, brunette hair fastened up, she speaks softly and deliberately. Acknowledging her fortitude is the product of war-related hardship, a lifetime of hard work and commitment to her family; husband, Hans Sr.,73 and sons Jack, 54, and Hans Jr., 48. That commitment began with an arranged marriage in northern Yugoslavia when she was just 16 years old. The year was 1936. For me it was very hard to leave home because I was an only child, she explained during an interview at her geranium-bedecked home adjacent to the Golden Mast. It was arranged by our parents, like it was done in the old days, to bring some property together. Her hometown was now 70 kilometers away a days horse and buggy ride through the woods and longer by train. As a bride, young Maria was expected to manage the Weissgerbers large farm, including preparing daily meals for 20 35 migrant workers. Her in-laws lived in town and her mother-in-law sometimes helped. I was supposed to lead that operation, and I was not old enough to do that. I had respect for my ...Read More