Cal Beisswanger, long-time director of the Wilmot Mountain Ski School in Wisconsin, passed away on December 27, 2016, at age 81.
Cal joined the Wilmot staff in 1955 and became a fully certified instructor in 1958. He served as co-director of the school until his retirement in 1990. In the mid 1960s, he was involved in promoting skiing at the first Chicago Ski Shows and through local media, including Chicago’s newspapers and television stations.
For more than 55 years, Cal helped to operate Wilmot’s Blizzard Ski and Snowboard School, one of 17 franchises that taught thousands of kids to ski across the country. He personally taught three generations of Chicago kids to ski. Starting in 1971, he also ran Variety Meats, a wholesale company that has grown into a thriving family business.
During the summers, Cal used his pilot’s license to fly his family north to a lakeside home. There he raced his sailboat every Sunday with his first mate and wife, Joy. He is survived by Joy, children Cal Jr. and Kimberly (Steve) Miedona, and grandchildren C.J., Cailee, Steven and Spencer.
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