Obit: Ertl, Walter L. (1933 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Arndt, Balla, Ertl, Frenzel, Klimek, Neuschwander, Schmidt, See, Thums

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 4/19/2018

Ertl, Walter “Wally” L. (17 MAY 1933 - 16 APR 2018)

Walter “Wally” L. Ertl, 84, of Medford passed away on Monday, April 16, 2018 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital where he had been a patient for the past two weeks.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 20 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford where there will also be military rites performed by the Medford Area Military Honors Team. Father David Neuschwander will officiate. Visitation will be held at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, where there will also be a 7 p.m. Catholic prayer service held that evening.

Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 20 at the church. Interment will take place at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Medford.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Joe, Wyatt, Austin, Logan, Eric, Alex, Jack and Ian Ertl and Mason and Sam Klimek.

Wally was born on May 17, 1933 in the township of Medford to the late Hedwig “Hattie” (Frenzel) and Andrew Ertl. He attended the town of Medford elementary school and was a 1951 graduate of Medford High School. On Nov. 28, 1953 he married JoAnne A. See at Camp Gordon, Ga. and she preceded him in death July 10, 1965. In November of 1968 he married Dorothy Schmidt at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford and they later divorced.

After his education, he worked in Kenosha for a period of time. Then he entered the US Army and was a Korean War veteran serving as a combat photographer. After the service he went to barbering school in Eau Claire. He returned to Medford and worked as a barber and in 1961 he established Wally’s Barber Shop which he owned/operated for over 50 years. While barbering, he also was a volunteer fireman for 29 years, worked 17 years as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service and co-owned/operated Double E Car Wash along with his brother, Don. Wally enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing and cribbage, but his faith and family were most important in his life. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, Medford Knights of Columbus and Medford American Legion.

Wally is survived by his children, Paula (Bryan) Arndt and David “Gabby” (Susan) Ertl, all of Medford, Tom (Denise) Ertl of Wausau and Jim Ertl of Rosemount, Minn., Patty (Brian) Klimek of Ringle, Phillip (Kirsten) Ertl of Wauwatosa and Marc (Julie) Ertl of Blaine, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and his first wife, Wally was preceded in death by his grandson, Jason and Christopher Balla; and his siblings, Marcella Thums and Donald Ertl.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to be given, in Wally’s name, to Holy Rosary Catholic School, Medford.

For online condolences, please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com.