Peter N. Guzzetta

August 25, 1934 – October 25, 2021

Peter N. Guzzetta died on October 25, 2021. Pete was born on August 25, 1934, in Madison WI, the son of Dominic and Rosalia Guzzetta (formerly Quartuccio). He graduated from Madison Central High School in 1953. While at Central he lettered all four years in football, basketball, and baseball. He attended UW-Platteville and graduated in 1958 with a major in industrial arts. He was a three-year letterman in football, played on two conference championship teams, and was proud to have played defensive end on a line that was recognized as number one in the nation in team defense by the N.A.I.A. in 1956.

In 1959 he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Nancy Jones.

Pete's first teaching and coaching job was in Sparta, WI; he taught industrial arts and was assistant football and assistant basketball coach. While there he started the wrestling program and was head coach.

In 1960 he joined Greenfield High School as woodworking teacher, Industrial Arts Department Chairman, assistant basketball coach, assistant wrestling coach, and assistant football coach. In 1968 Pete and Nancy moved to Muskego where they raised their sons Michael and David.

In 1972 he was named head football coach at Greenfield and he retired from that position in 1991. His teams were conference champions in 1976 and 1978 and finished second in the conference several times. One of his proudest moments was when he was chosen to be the defensive coordinator for the South Team in the 1987 Wisconsin Shrine All-Star game. He helped coach the south to a game winning and dominant defensive performance. He was a long-time member of the WFCA, the American Football Coaches Association, as well as a WIAA wrestling, football, and basketball official. He helped initiate the Metro Milwaukee Coaches Association and he spoke at several football camps and conferences during his 35-year coaching career.

Pete received numerous awards for coaching. His most cherished award was being inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005. Along with fellow inductees, his name is permanently displayed on a plaque in Lambeau Field, home of his beloved Green Bay Packers. Pete loved football. He loved playing, coaching, discussing, and watching football. But most of all he loved his players, his teammates, and the coaches that he had the privilege to work with.

When his sons, Michael and David, were competing in football, baseball, basketball, and wrestling he never missed a single game. He was so proud of both of their accomplishments and loved coaching and watching them compete. He spent thousands of hours coaching and throwing the football with Michael, who played quarterback in high school and college. He put thousands of miles on his car driving around the state taking David to full day wrestling tournaments. He instilled a love of fishing and hunting in both of his sons that continues to today. They spent many hours fishing together at "Our Lake", aka Lake Rachelle in Big Bend, WI.

He lifelong love of towing travel trailers began when he first started dating Nancy in 1953 and he worked with her father in his Travel Trailer business. He was an expert in all things RV and helped countless friends and even strangers properly set up their trailers. He bought his first travel trailer 1963 and towed many different trailers all over the country. Nancy, Michael, and David spent numerous summers in campgrounds hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring. For the past 40 years he and Nancy made annual trips to the Florida panhandle where they parked their travel trailer at many of Florida's beautiful state parks and beaches.

Pete was an avid fisherman and throughout his life fished hundreds of lakes, ponds, streams, and oceans all across the country- most often sharing a boat with friends and family. He and David spent many sunny days on the beaches of Florida and filled many bellies with the elusive and delicious Florida pompano.

Peter also loved to work with his hands. Working together as "Team G" he rehabbed his cottage, his home, and David's homes over his entire life. He also helped numerous family and friends with projects around their homes. A perfect day for Pete was working with his hands all day, fishing at dusk, and then watching football in the evening. He also enjoyed playing cards and taught his sons how to play his favorite card game, Euchre. He loved to eat, especially a good Sicilian meal. In the recent years he and Nancy followed David around the country watching him become a World Record Holder at the Punkin' Chunkin' World Championships.

In their retirement, Pete and Nancy spent a lot of time at their cottage in Manitowish Waters where they were active members of the Northwoods Ski Touring Association, cross-country and downhill skiing in winter, biking and kayaking in summer and enjoying their many close friends. Pete served as president of the Dead Pike Lake Association for many years.

Most of all Pete loved spending every day with Nancy and treasured all the time he could spend with his sons Mike and Dave. He was a master storyteller, quick with a comeback, and always ready to help a friend in need.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nancy, and his sons Michael and David and daughter in law Amy; his sisters Mariea Harrington and Donna Rohde; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents and older brothers George Guzzetta and John Guzzetta.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association's scholarship fund by sending checks payable to: WFCA Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund.

Address:

WFCA Office
PO Box 8
Poynette, WI 53955