Marguerite "Mugs" Bachhuber of Green Bay, Wis., was named the 20th member of the Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame on Tuesday at Lambeau Field.
A lifelong Packers fan, Bachhuber was selected by fans from 10 finalists during a voting period that ran from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31 on Packers.com. More than 40,000 votes were cast from throughout the United States and countries around the world.
Marguerite "Mugs" Bachhuber, of Green Bay, WI, was named the 20th member of the Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame Tuesday at Lambeau Field. Photos by Evan Siegle, packers.com.
At 87, Bachhuber, known among friends as "Mugs," is well-known for spreading her love and enthusiasm for the Packers to her eight children over the years. She and her husband, Ray, raised their family in Mayville, Wis., and their home became a hub for countless friends and relatives to enjoy Packers games. The family also created a tradition of attending the Bishop's Charities preseason game together each year.
After their kids were grown, the couple spent their winters in Texas for many years, maintaining their passion for the Packers no matter where they lived. Bachhuber collected a variety of Packers items all her adult life, finding treasures at rummage sales and sharing them with others in the community for television ads, breast cancer awareness videos or group photos of Packers fans at her current home, Woodside Manor in Green Bay.
Bachhuber now watches Packers games with friends atWoodside, leading them all in Packers songs during the games and on Friday afternoon Happy Hour Singalongs. She also keeps her apartment at Woodside decorated with her "seasonal Packers shrine."
An excerpt of the nomination letter reads: "Often, after a wild game, one or more of her six sons will call her on the phone to re-hash the game highlights. She might be hoarse from hollering, but she'll have strong opinions about the action!"
Regarding her nomination, Bachhuber said: "I'm thrilled and surprised with this nomination! I love living in Green Bay and the Packers are almost at my doorstep where I live. Thank you for choosing me as a fan finalist. It is a real honor. My eight kids won't believe it!"
This year's other finalists included: Felicia Reed from Milwaukee; Lloyd Wettstein from Appleton, Wis.; Sue "Stolty" Stoltenberg from Wausaukee, Wis.; Michael Sledz from Grayslake, Ill.; Mike Seavert from Greenfield, Wis.; John Kuziej from Burnsville, Minn.; Robert Retzlaff from Necedah, Wis.; Dave Lucero from Green Bay, Wis.; and Allie Healy from Franklin, Wis.
Bachhuber will receive four club seats to a 2018 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2018 Packers away game, including game tickets, air fare and hotel accommodations; and a one-year subscription to Packers Plus. Bachhuber also will have her name permanently displayed in a place of honor in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
The Green Bay Packers established the Packers FAN Hall of Fame in 1998 for the purpose of annually honoring a devout and longtime Packers fan. The 19 prior honorees include Mel Knoke, Appleton, Wis.; Louis Gardipee, Black River Falls, Wis.; Ed Jablonski, Wausau, Wis.; Paul Mazzoleni, Green Bay; Wanda Boggs, Brookfield, Wis.; Sister Isaac Jogues Rousseau, Milwaukee; Dorothy Hanke, Milwaukee; Kathy Lazzaro, Milwaukee; Rich Barbera, River Vale, N.J.; Richard 'Ike' Eisenhauer, Wauwatosa, Wis.; Allan Hale, Green Bay; Jim Becker, Racine, Wis.; Tom Little, Mount Sterling, Ill; Rick Steele, Greensburg, Pa; Edward Fritsch, Sheboygan, Wis.; Vivian Scherf-Laabs, Cedarburg, Wis., Steve Schumer, Gillette, N.J., Pat Nevala, Menomonie, Wis., and Frank Lamping, Union Grove, Wis.
USA Today Wisconsin and Robert Haack Diamonds sponsor the Packers FAN Hall of Fame.
