Harold Herbert “Punk” Stayton Jr was born July 9, 1945, at the family home in Camp Douglas, WI to Harold Herbert “Pete” Stayton Sr and Sonja Regina Stayton (Larson). His mother nicknamed him “Punkie” (for pumpkin) which was later shortened to “Punk”. He was one of four children with older brothers Karl Lloyd Stayton (survived by wife Barbara), Vern Lee Stayton (survived by former wife Joyce), and little sister Salley Mae Sparks (survived by husband Jack).
Punk had an eclectic childhood. He learned about God in the Bethel Baptist Church where his mother was the music director. His father was an animal trainer and jockey at the horse races where Punk learned other things. He was raised with pet bears, raccoons, and a cavalcade of characters that helped form the entertainer he was to become. Punk attended a small one-room school where he claimed he was the third smartest kid in a class of two. He was an athletic youth who competed in baseball, basketball, football, and track.
He took a shine to his neighbor and school mate Joan Marie Stayton (Brown). They married September 18, 1964, and together began the adventure of raising six children and themselves: Terrie Lynn Wilkins (husband Charlie), Tammy Marie Samuelson, Noel Duaine “Skip” Jones Jr (wife Lisa), Roberta Jo “Bobby Jo” Kovar (husband Mark), Connie Lou McClain (Donnie Chrisler), and Clint James “CJ” Stayton (wife Karen).
Punk’s passion was rodeo, and his specialized event was steer-wrestling (or bulldogging). He received his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) card around 1963. Punk loaded up his family and traveled the country performing in rodeos across the United States. He competed in rodeos from Cheyenne, WY to Houston, TX to Madison Square Garden in New York City. In 1975, he won the Great Lakes Circuit Finals which qualified him to compete in the National Finals Rodeo, the most prestigious event in rodeo.
Due to back injuries, Punk transitioned from rodeo competition to rodeo entertainment. Punk became a bullfighter/barrel clown and entertained thousands of people with his hilarious antics and clever skits. His most famous skit was his character “Captain Clutch” who tore into rodeo arenas in his “UFO”, a supped-up, zero turn lawn mower that he modified himself. He was one of the first rodeo entertainers to utilize wireless microphone technology and was lauded for his creativity and ingenuity. He was sponsored by Coors brewing company and was an ambassador of rodeo appearing in several television and radio promotions throughout the nation.
After leaving Wisconsin, Punk moved his family to Florida then Texas. Then following the oilfield boom of the early 80’s Punk settled in Wann, OK. He continued to take the family on the rodeo circuit through the summers but returned home during the school year. A self-proclaimed “jack-of-all-trades/master of none”, Punk held many jobs titles such as oilfield worker, truck driver, pick-up man, cable installer, and construction worker. He later found his career path as a certified electrical journeyman.
Punk resided in Oklahoma until his divorce in 1993 and then moved to Racine, WI. It was here that he met his second wife, Kathleen Claire Stayton (Gironimi) when she hired him to do electrical work in her garage. In Kathie he found a quick-witted companion who could match his wise cracks quip for quip. The two married October 7, 1995, and Punk gained his second family with Kathie’s daughter Margaret Mary “Meg” Kosterman (Herchen), her former husband Robert Patrick Kosterman and their four children.
Punk remained in Racine and proudly served the community as a member of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) 430 Local Electricians Union until his retirement. He attended Great Lakes Church faithfully. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren’s sporting events and complaining about the Packers. He frequently made trips back to Camp Douglas to finish building a summer house on his father’s land. He loved to visit family and his favorite watering holes, not necessarily in that order.
Punk had a long list of lifelong friends that he would have liked to say goodbye to. Here is a short list in alphabetical order (so as not to slight anyone): the Brown’s, Jimmy Clark, John & Sandra Davis, the Donaldson’s, Dennis & Nancy Drahos, the Falk’s, Sue & Nick Fesko, the Frei’s, the Georgeson’s, the Gilmore’s, Larry Hamilton, Babe & Joanne Jones, the Jones’, the Keichinger’s, the Lovdahl’s, Linda Marquardt & family, Sandy & Rogelio Moreno, the Sparks’s, John & Dianne Steffan, the Tjader’s, Thomas “Woody” Visintainer, Ruth Walquist, and the Wernicke’s. If you were not listed, just know he loves you too.
He was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Punk loved his children and grandchildren. He mostly loved giving them a hard time. Adults were no exception. He loved jokes and messing with people. If Punk Stayton messed with you, it’s because he loved you. He drank beer, swallowed his chew, and never went anywhere without a pocketknife. He was charming, quick with a smile, effortless with a joke, and never met a man he didn’t like…or at least didn’t let them know it.
Ironically, Punk Stayton took his final ride on Father’s Day June 16, 2024, at 6:30pm. He passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family in a house full of love. He battled Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis for his last five years and never let it beat him down. Punk was a man of great faith which helped him endure this terrible disease. Adorned in his cowboy hat, handkerchief, can of snuff, and trusty pocketknife, Punk rode out the gate and on to his next great adventure. The world is a little less colorful without him.
The family would like to thank Dr. Randolph Lipchick from Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee for the wonderful care he received.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday August 3, 2024 at the Mill Bluff Campground. Exact time and location to be announced.
