Anton “Tony” Moest, 97, died peacefully on August 22, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Born on May 28, 1929 in Lamont, Wisconsin, Anton was the firstborn of German immigrants who valued hard work, honesty, and integrity. He graduated from Winslow High School n 1947 and carried those early values with him throughout his life. 

Anton grew up in a cheese factory alongside his six siblings, in a family where German was his first language. Growing up in rural Wisconsin and Illinois during the 1930s and 1940s gave him a lifetime of stories, many of which he loved to share. He had a remarkable memory for people, places and events, and his stories offered a glimpse into a time and way of life that has long since passed. Whether recounting something from his childhood, a farming story, or an event from decades before, Anton had a way of making those memories come alive. 

He married Gertrude Zimmerman in Brodhead, Wisconsin on October 6, 1956. Together they raised four children in Kent and Freeport, Illinois. Their marriage endured for 55 years, until Gertrude’s death on November 30, 2011. 

Anton is survived by his children, Denise Moest, Steve Moest (Janeen), Kathi Moest, and Jim Moest (Jolene); 8 grandchildren, Abby, Becca, Grant, Elizabeth, Jacob, Ben, Nicole and Jackie; 9 great-grandchildren & 4 sisters, Mary Auer, Ann Moest, Josie Koester & Helen Moest. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, great grandson Stetson Moest, his brother Alois Moest Jr. & his sister Rose Noeske. 

Anton loved anything related to farming and showing pigs, interests that became defining threads throughout his life. In his younger years, he spent a great deal of time raising and taking show pigs to county & state fairs. What began as a personal passion continued through his children and grandchildren, becoming part of the family’s shared experience across generations. For many years he was a familiar figure in the show pig barns at the Stephenson County Fair, where he could often be found socializing with judges and participants alike. 

He was known as a sharp-minded man who enjoyed talking business, farming, current events, politics and show pigs. He appreciated a lively discussion and was especially fond of stirring a heated political debate around the dining room table, always with a mischievous grin on his face, followed by decaf coffee and dessert, and those moments of conversation and camaraderie were among the joys he valued most. 

Family remained central in his life. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and hearing about their life’s endeavors. In retirement he & Gert enjoyed traveling, with an Alaskan cruise, trips to Germany & Switzerland to visit relatives and a trip to Disney World with their two oldest granddaughters among the highlights of those years. He also was a big Nascar fan, enjoyed square dancing & playing Euchre with friends. 

Anton will be remembered for the enduring values that shaped his life, the stories he carried from another generation, the conversations he welcomed, and the deep and lasting place farming, family and fairgrounds held in his heart. His life was closely tied to the people around him, the traditions he cherished, and the many meals, discussions, and fair days that marked the years. His memory will live on around our family tables, in stories about farming and the past. 

And to his grandchildren, who heard it every time they left a visit with him, his parting words will always be remembered: “Don’t take any wooden nickels.” 

Funeral mass will be Saturday August 29 at 11:00am, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Freeport. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at St. Jospeh’s Church. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. 

In lieu of Flowers, a memorial has been established