Freedom-4-H activities that began in childhood turned into decades of enthusiasm, bringing Troy Landwehr global recognition.

Landwehr first tried cheese carving at the first Little Chute Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival in 1988. Professional cheese carvers invited 4-H children to learn how to use pottery tools on cheese. 

In the years that followed, his cheese carving was recognized locally, and his talent was brilliant. He was hired to carve anything, from Mount Rushmore to life-size replicas of Abraham Lincoln, from local weddings to promotional events for major companies such as Disney.

Troy Landwehr died on Sunday after a brief battle with the infection. 

Landwehr grew up north of Little Chute and attended St. John’s Catholic School and Xavier High School. He attended college at the Milwaukee College of Art and Design, where he earned a degree in graphic design.

In addition to being a world-renowned cheese carver, he is also the owner of Kerrigan Brothers' Winery in Freedom, which opened in 2000. All the wines sold by the winery are made by him and he has designed the wine labels himself.

Troy's mother Karin Landwell said that friends will remember her son's positivity, gentleness, and kindness. Although his cheese carving has been widely recognized, she said that he has always remained humble.

"He is a very positive person," Karin Landwell said. "This is his nature, he can always find something good in something or someone, and he has been this way since he was a child."

In a conversation with The Post-Crescent in 2008, Troy Landwehr said that his cheese carving success was a bit unexpected, mostly due to word of mouth.

"It started to be a fun and interesting thing, and over time, I found more and more jobs outside of the Cheese Festival," he said. "It's more like a new thing."

In 2002, Landwehr was invited to create cheese sculptures for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Milwaukee and the "Monday Night Football" game at Rambo Stadium. 

In 2006, after the image of the swan sculpture he created at the Little Chute Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival appeared in an article in Newsweek, he was invited to participate in the "David Letterman Evening Show", Karin Landwehr said this time The appearance kicked off Troy. Broader recognition.

After that, he appeared more on television and traveled all over the country to make his cheese works as far as London and China. In 2015, he created the world's largest cheese sculpture-a Guinness World Record for a cheeseburger weighing 1,524 pounds.

Karin Landwell said that Troy's life wish has always been to run his own business, and he has come into contact with many things as he grows up. He helps in his parents' carpet and curtain business, and sometimes he designs custom carpets. 

He started his winery on the lower level of the carpet and curtain business, and later moved to its current location, at his grandparents' farm after their death.

"He is very creative," Karin Landwell said. "If you let him do anything, he can do it."

In addition to a successful career full of art, wine and cheese, Troy's family grew up at the end of his life.

Karin Landwehr said that he was adopted when he was a few weeks old and that he has kept in touch with his biological family for the past two years.

Last year, Troy married his wife Alena. The couple met when she visited the winery.

"We fell in love very quickly and liked to do everything together," said Alena Landwehr. "All his friends and family said that the life he and I spent together was the happiest life he has seen in a long time."

Alena Landwehr said that she gave Troy a reason to take a vacation, and his family said that he didn't always do it for himself because he was committed to his career and worked a lot. 

"I will tell you that that is the girl he likes," Karin said. "He always said,'I only do it once.' And, well, that's what he did, but we definitely want it to be longer."

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @ArseneauKelli.