Neale E. Wenzel
Neale E. Wenzel, age 77, of Potter, died on Friday, August 16, 2019 at St. Paul Home in Kaukauna. He was born October 6, 1941 in Rural Hilbert, son of the late Roy & Helen (Jooss) Wenzel. Neale married Judy Reis on May 1, 1966 in Mishicot, Wisconsin.
Neale was born to be a farmer and dedicated his life to this endeavor in the Town of Rantoul. He cherished every moment tending to his herd and meticulously watching and caring for his cropland. He openly embraced new ideas and technology to grow and improve his farm, knowing that if he wasn’t excelling, he was probably sinking. It was not uncommon to see him in his truck traversing the countryside checking crops and striking up conversations with others around the area to see how everything in their fields were doing and to see if they’ve implemented new ideas into their operations. Given his pension for meticulous farming, he was awarded the Outstanding Farmer Award in 1972 through Calumet County.
Once a farmer, always a farmer, so even into retirement, Neale continued to keep a watchful eye on the land he loved and took great pride in teaching his “farm boys” about the farm and the lessons of life to be learned in farming.
Beyond his passion for farming, Neale was very civic minded, doing everything he could for his community and the people that lived there. He volunteered with the Potter Fire Department for 26 years and served on the Town of Rantoul Board for several years.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Rantoul where he willingly and earnestly served as Chairman of the Congregation and every other position needing filling, except the position of Pastor. Given his kind demeanor and warm personality, Neale was well known and admired by all those who knew him and had working interactions with him.
Survivors include his wife: Judy; his children: Kevin (Jessica) Wenzel, Karen (Michael) Endries, Koreen (Jason) Zelten, Kay (Rob) Schoen, Karla (Dan) Brault; 13 grandchildren: Brenden, Merrick, Faith, Melissa, Michelle, Sara, Haley, Brianna, Justin (Hailey) Katelyn & her fiancé, Nate, McKayla, Carson & Ashlynn; a great grandchild arriving soon; 2 sisters: Joanne Ebert & Lois Korns; and his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Donna Wenzel, Jim (Debbie) Reis, Jeannine (Michael) Barr. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Neale was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws: Charles & Hazel Reis, a grandchild: Kendra Wenzel; a brother: Roger Wenzel; his sisters: Charlotte Wenzel & Margie Kasberger; his sister-in-law: JoAnn Reis; and brothers-in-law: Dick Korns, Fritz Kasberger & Gerald Ebert.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church – Rantoul (N6080 West River Road Hilbert) with Rev. Mark Wilkens officiating. Burial will follow in the Parish Cemetery. Friends may call at the Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main St.) in Chilton from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 and on Thursday at the church from 9:30 am until 10:45 am.