Clesson "Mickey" Henningsen

Picha Funeral Home, Locally Owned and Operated

Providing Friendly, Courteous and Dignified Funeral Service

Clesson “Mickey” Henningsen, age 80 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin died Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Beverly Living Center in Wisconsin Dells.

Curtain Call will be held Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 3:00 P.M. at the Picha Funeral Home in Lake Delton. Visitation will be held at the Picha Funeral Home on Saturday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service at 3:00 P.M. for a gathering of his friends to share their memories of Mickey as he shuffles off this earthly stage.

The final curtain has gone down on the life of Clesson “Mickey” Henningsen. His life can be best reflected in the comedy/tragedy masks that hung on his walls. Much of his life and good spirit shown in that happy, gregarious mask that would bring joy to his many friends. His final act, which many of us shared, was a time of trials and tribulations.

Mickey having been born March 30, 1927 in South Portland, Maine was a “Maniac” in the finest sense of the word. Behind that sometimes gruff exterior, was a very caring and giving man. He gave to his friends in so many ways. A cheerful greeting and his favorite toast of “health and kindness” said volumes. His Christmas shopping was always done before the calendar turned to December. Mickey was also the author of an annual Christmas verse to brighten our holidays.

His Teen Footlighters theater group based at the Bernard Horwich J.C.C. in West Rodgers Park near Chicago was his life from 1961-1982. Mickey helped many poor and rudderless kids to find themselves and discover their dreams. Many of his alumni work in show business in Chicago, Los Angeles and Hollywood. Because of what Mickey taught them, they are living their dreams.

His involvement in the children’s theater doesn’t end there. In 1981 with the help of the Wisconsin Dells Parks and Recreation Department he founded the Wisconsin Dells Children’s Theater. Mickey was the writer, director and creative force behind the group until 1998. As many of the local actors can attest, he stressed a characteristic that is somewhat lacking today called commitment. He was a stern task master at times but only to bring out the hidden strengths and resilience that each child had inside. Once a part of each cast you made a commitment to each other to attend rehearsals, get off lines and to hit your marks. Mickey had little tolerance for prima donas or stars. He believed in the strength of the ensemble. Each member of the cast and crew was a building block and the whole was stronger than the sum of its parts. One of his greatest delights was to take a seed, watch it grow and finally bloom.

As a new script is written and another curtain rises we say goodbye to our friend Mickey.

No flowers Please. Any memorials can be sent to the Alzheimers Association of South Central Wisconsin at 2825 Hunter’s Trail in Portage, Wisconsin.

He is survived by his very close friends Paul and Helen Ebert of Wisconsin Dells and many others.