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Obituary for Willard Brett Southard
Dr. Willard “Bill” Brett Southard, 82, a longtime resident of Frederic, died Saturday, November 20, 2010, at the Comforts of Home.
Bill was born on August 17, 1928 to Willard and Eva Southard in Marshfield, WI. He attended Rice Lake High School, the University of WI-River Falls, and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Bill practiced optometry in Frederic from 1950 to 1995. In 1951, he took a year off from his practice to serve in Korea as part of the Army’s 3rd Medical Battalion.
He married Marie Rydeen on June 12, 1953, at the Sand Lake Lutheran Church. They were married 51 years and had four children. Bill’s interests included hunting, fishing, flying, and spending time with family. During his younger years, he was active in the Frederic Chamber of Commerce, serving as president and helping shoot off fireworks at Frederic Family Days. He was also an active member at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in North Luck until his decline in health. He spent his last five years at the Comforts of Home in Frederic, where he received excellent care.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Marie; sister, Jean; and brother, Robert.
Bill is survived by four children, Brett (Sandy) Southard of Brainerd, MN, Patti (Mike) Weigand of River Falls, Ginny (Duane) Clausen of Frederic and Palm City, FL, and Sarah (Doug) Burckhardt of Roseville, MN. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Kirsten, Katie and Amy Southard, Brian Clausen, Brett, Anna and Nicole Burckhardt, Mike (Cathy) Weigand, and Emily (Ben) Shier; four siblings, Dale (Cathy) Southard, Donald (Sherrie) Southard, James Southard, Susan (Foster) Bridger; and seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 27, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in North Luck. A visitation will be held at the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic on Friday, November 26, from 5-7 p.m. as well as one hour before the service at the church. Interment will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery in North Luck.
Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
