Obit: Henchen, Wilbert Hugo “Lefty” (1926 - 2019)

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

Surnames: Henchen, Schroeder, Ludovic, Schutte, Schaub, Carstens, Trunkel, Biebert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 12/25/2019

Henchen, Wilbert Hugo “Lefty” (20 August 1926 – 22 December 2019) With Flag.

Wilbert “Lefty” Henchen, age 93, of Neillsville, died Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the Care and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville.

Wilbert Hugo Henchen was born on August 20, 1926 in the Town of Weston, Clark County, the son of Arnold and Helen (Schroeder) Henchen. He attended Globe School to the 8th grade and then worked on the family farm and farms in the area. In 1948, he started working at the Milk Products Plant in Neillsville. Wilbert enlisted into the United States Army in October of 1951, serving in Panama, where he ran a movie projector, worked on aircraft engines and guarded the Panama Canal. He was honorably discharged in September of 1953 and he returned to his job at Milk Products. A few years later, “Lefty” moved to Spokane, WA to work. After a while he decided to move back to Neillsville and in 1966 started working at the Nelson Muffler Factory. He retired from there in 1989.

“Lefty” is a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post #73. He enjoyed hunting, golfing and bowling.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy, two step-children, Leroy (Beth) Ludovic of Neillsville, and Nicholas (Diane) Ludovic of King of Prussia, PA, five step-grandchildren, many step-great-grandchildren, two siblings, Edward Henchen and Julia Henchen both of Neillsville and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Raymond, Leo and Herbert Henchen and a sister-in-law, Irene Henchen.

Funeral Services for Wilbert will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2019 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Timothy Biebert will officiate. Music will be provided by Judy Trunkel, organist. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with military honors performed by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 29, at Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 30 at the church.

Casket bearers will be Jim Henchen, Randy Henchen, Linda Schutte, Carol Schaub, Randy Ludovic and Steve Carstens.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting “Lefty’s” family with Funeral arrangements.