Nueske’s Meats Grieves Passing of President

Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats in Wittenberg, Wis., announced the passing of Robert “Bob” D. Nueske, son of company founder R.C. Nueske and the company’s president, on Jan. 12 at the age of 67. 

Nueske was born on Feb. 22, 1947, and grew up working closely with his father, founder in 1933 of the family’s now third-generation smokehouse. Bob and his brother, Jim, learned from their father the tradition of patiently coaxing all of the sweet, rich smoke out of the pure Wisconsin applewood that they use to smoke all of their meats, imparting the famous flavor that is now Nueske’s signature, and known by chefs and food lovers across the nation. 

Nueske also knew how to bring the best out of his friends and employees, and all who know him will miss his unwavering dedication to quality in everything he accomplished and how he shared his values with others in the calm and steady way that he possessed. 

Tanya Nueske, his daughter, is the third generation of the Nueske family to run the smokehouse, and she is heavily involved in taking the same care of her family’s products as her father. Nueske will be missed, but the recipes and traditional smoking of his family’s fine applewood smoked meats will continue to be part of memorable meals taking place across the country.