Obit: Walbeck, Marlin A. (1932 - 2014)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Barkdoll, Bucher, Etten, Grubba, Hort, Kamke, Kaske, Krajnik, Walbeck, West, Zielke

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 5/15/2014

Walbeck, Marlin A. (9 JUL 1932 - 2 MAY 2014)

Marlin A. Walbeck, 81, Rib Lake, died on Friday, May 2 at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, where he had resided the past 6-1/2 years.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Rib Lake, with Father Otto Bucher and Father Dale Grubba officiating. Full military honors will be conducted by Lehman-Clendenning American Legion of Rib Lake. His body was donated to the University of Wisconsin-Madison medical school.

Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, May 10 from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m.

Hemer Funeral Homes of Rib Lake and Medford assisted the family with arrangements.

Marlin Walbeck was born on July 9, 1932 in Rib Lake to the late Adolph and Adeline M. (Kaske) Walbeck. He attended Ward Grade School and was a 1950 graduate of Rib Lake High School.

On July 12, 1965 at St. John the Baptist Church in Rib Lake, he married Donna L. Etten, who survives. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Germany. After the service, he was a stock car driver for 20 years, with Tombstone Pizza as his sponsor. He then worked as a finishing carpenter for Doyle and Huotari construction companies for 20 years until his retirement.

He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, served as past town chairman of Rib Lake, and former member of USAC and NASCAR where he won the National Championship in 1967. He enjoyed attending and watching races, any sporting event, working in the woods, animals on his hobby farm, and playing the trumpet, which he started playing in the 8th grade with his father's band, then played in various local bands.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, M. Kurt (Karla) Walbeck of Fall Creek and M. Kent (LeAnn) Walbeck of Eau Claire; two daughters, Dana (David) Kamke of Mosinee and Diana (Ron) Krajnik of Appleton; 15 grandchildren, Aaron and Isaac West, McKenna and Braden Walbeck, Gabriella, Spencer, Sophia and Greta Kamke, Azrianna, Isabella, Sarah, Emma and Noah Krajnik, Blake Hort and Lillee Walbeck; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Martha "Marge" Zielke, and two brothers-in-law, Howard Barkdoll and Robert Zielke.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in his name to be made to Good Shepherd Catholic Church window fund or Rib Lake Public Library.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.