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Obituary for Wilmer H. Pautsch
Wilmer Herman Pautsch passed away at the age of 85 on October 15, 2010 while in the thoughts and prayers of his family. He was born March 20, 1925 in Frederic, Wisconsin to Martha and Herman Pautsch. Wilmer was the youngest of a large family with 13 children. Wilmer’s mother died when he was a young child and he was raised by his older sister, Evelyn in Luck, Wisconsin. He was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Frederic and confirmed at the West Denmark Lutheran Church. Wilmer attended Luck High School and graduated in the spring of 1943. He enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corp directly after high school graduation. He spent a great part of his Naval career in pilot training schools at various universities around the United States.
Wilmer married Doris Christensen (Milltown, Wisconsin) on May 10, 1947 in St. Paul, Minnesota. They started their family in St. Paul before moving to Centuria and then Luck where they raised their family of four children. In 1970 they built a home on Bone Lake where they spent 30 years making many fond memories with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Unfortunately Wilmer’s health problems caused them to move back to Luck where he resided until his passing.
After serving in the Naval Air Corp, Wilmer went to work for the St. Paul Cable Car Company. Upon moving to Wisconsin he worked at the Land O’ Lakes plant in Luck while he also independently performed various electrical and plumbing jobs. In 1967 Wilmer went to work for the Wisconsin Gas Company as a service repairman. He retired in 1987 due to health problems associated with diabetes and heart disease. Wilmer remained active in the community after his retirement by serving on the Bone Lake Town Board for 12 years. Wilmer was also a member of the Luck Fire Department for 22 years, an active member of the Luck Lutheran Church for over 58 years, and a member of the Luck American Legion for 65 years.
Wilmer loved life and enjoyed many activities throughout his life. What he loved most was spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at their home on Bone Lake. Wilmer enjoyed fishing, hunting, and staying at his log cabin in the woods north of Luck. For a time he raised Siberian Huskies and enjoyed dog sledding in the winter months. He loved to fly his ultra-light airplane and would often be seen flying over Bone Lake and the surrounding area. Wilmer also built and flew remote model airplanes. He enjoyed wood carving and created many keepsakes for his family. He loved traveling with his wife Doris throughout his early years of retirement.
Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Martin and Loren; his sisters, Verna, Nora, Viona, Esther, Evelyn, Lillian; and four infant siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Doris; their four children, Cynthia (Ken) Isaac, Wendy (Doug) Route, Vonnie (Randy) Cudd, and Greg (Kathie) Pautsch; 10 grandchildren, Brenda (Dean) Isaac, Andrea (Jeff) Voelker, Nathan (Jaime) Isaac, Joel (Heidi) Route, Aaron (Tracey) Cudd, Sara (Aaron) Curti, Adam (Mara) Cudd, Adam (Rebecca) Pautsch, Breahan Pautsch, Jamie Pautsch; 10 great-grandchildren, Isabel, Eliza, and Delilah Isaac, Braden Voelker, Camden and Gage Route, Michael and Marcus Cudd, Annabelle and Austin Curti; Pam Vilstrup-Pautsch; sisters-in-law, Florence (Kenny), Donalda, Manetta, and Phyllis.
Funeral services will be held at the Luck Lutheran Church in Luck, WI on Thursday, October 21 at 11 am with Pastor Norman Belland officiating. Two visitations will precede this service: Wednesday evening from 5-8 p.m. at Rowe Funeral Home in Luck and again prior to the service at the church on Thursday beginning at 10:00 a.m. Music will be provided by soloist, Kelly Steen and organist, Margie Nelson. With full military grave side honors, Wilmer will be laid to rest at the Luck Village Cemetery. Wilmer’s casket bearers are Aaron Cudd, Joel Route, Adam Cudd, Nathan Isaac, Adam Pautsch, Aaron Curti, Jeff Voelker, and Dean Garnas. Honorary casket bearers will be Irv Samuelson, Spike Johansen, Gene Hedegard, Paul Bille, Curtis Bille, Gayland Jensen and Edwin Pedersen.
As information is updated it can be found on our website: http://www.rowefh.com/ or call Bruce Rowe at 715-472-2444.
Rowe Funeral Home of Luck has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
