Obit: Kuchenbecker, William Fred #2 (1929 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kuchenbecker, Hodick, Zirngibl, Foemmel, Mehlbrech, Schlais, Shook, Brott, Hebert, Peltier, Resong, Joseph

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/20/2012

Kuchenbecker, William Fred (2 May 1929 - 13 June 2012)

William “Bill” Fred Kuchenbecker, 83, of Neillsville died Wednesday, June13, 2012, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield.

Bill was born May 2, 1929, in Westboro, the son of Fred and Anna (Hodick) Kuchenbecker. He graduated from Westboro High School. Bill was united in marriage to Rita Zirngibl May 26, 1951, and together they raised 10 children. After training through General Motors as a mechanic, he worked in Medford until 1955 when he became part owner of the Chevrolet dealership in Greenwood. After a fire destroyed it in 1962, he opened his own service station, Bill’s Pure Service in Greenwood. He sold the business in 1969 and moved his family to Neillsville, where he purchased Kuchenbecker Beer Distributing. He retired from the business in 1980, but continued to be very active with managing a Laundromat, shuttling kids to and from Sunburst and deliveries for the Shopper paper.

Throughout his life, Bill was very active with various activities, including the Greenwood Fire Department, The Holy Name Society and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwood. He was a 60-year member of the Knights of Columbus with a 4th Degree Status and served as their financial secretary for 10 years. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Men’s Club in Neillsville. Bill also found time to do those things he enjoyed most, such as fishing, hunting, golfing and spending time with his family.

Bill loved the outdoors and would grab a fishing pole or hunting buddies whenever he got the chance. He made many trips to the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota as well as other more local excursions like ice fishing on the Mississippi, deer hunting in Glidden or rabbit and grouse hunting from a friendly farmer’s woodlot. He was a one-of-a-kind person with a profound curiosity for problem-solving and was great at repairing almost anything. While he had a unique sense of humor, he wasn’t afraid to “tell it like it is.” His strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, generous nature and dedication to family was well known to his friends and family who aspire to continue that tradition.

Bill is survived by his wife, Rita, of Neillsville; eight children and 30 grandchildren, Mary Kuchenbecker of Houston, TX; Mark (Lynn) Kuchenbecker of Rozenberg, TX, (Richard, Stephanie, Christina, Diane, Carolyn, Charlie and Jacob); Kent (Veronica) Kuchenbecker of Winter Springs, FL, (Jeremy and J0oshua); James (Patricia) Kuchenbecker of Channahon, IL, (Sarah, Mike and Jake); Robert Kuchenbecker (Pat Brost) of Winter (Amber and Justin); William K. (Sheila) Kuchenbecker of Verona (Brianna, Ross, Mason, Garett and Jader); Nancy (Loren) Foemmel of Waterloo, IA, (Ashley, Paige, Jordan and Adam); and Karen (Elwin) Mehlbrech (Emily, Morgan, Bethany and Regan); and daughter-in-law, Karen Kuchenbecker of Neillsville (Adam, Jared and Megan). He is also survived by two sisters, Grace (Galen) Schlais and Violet Kuchenbecker, both of Medford, and two step-sisters, Sharon (Robert) Shook of Westboro and jean (Ronald) Brott of Milwaukee.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Carol, in 1980; a son, Michel, in 2004; a step-sister, Dorothy Hebert and a step-brother, Emil Peltier.

A mass of Christian burial was held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 18, 2012, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville. Rev. Varkey V. Joseph officiated. Providing music was the St. Mary’s Choir accompanied by Ronald Resong, organist. Visitation was from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday morning at the church. The morning began at 9:15 a.m. with a Knights of Columbus Rosary at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Interment was in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Serving as casketbearers were Mark, Kent, James, Robert, William K. and Adam Kuchenbecker.

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

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted William’s family with funeral arrangements.