Obituary of Hubert John Welniak

Hubert John Welniak, age 76, passed away Tuesday March 12, 2013 at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Saint Michael's Catholic Church in Hewitt. Rev. Raj will officiate. Committal services will be in the springtime when the birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the grass is green. His family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the church from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Active pallbearers will be Chris and Carmen Welniak, Dominic Willcome, and Kaitlyn Keech. His honorary pallbearers will be Kayla Keech, Bianca Welniak, and Sterling Willcome. Arrangements are entrusted to Life Tributes Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Spencer. Hubert was born November 20, 1936 in Elyria, Nebraska, son of the late John and Monica (Knebel) Welniak. When Hubert was very young, this hard working farming family relocated from Nebraska to the town of Richfield because of the severe drought. As a family they farmed in the town of Richfield until 1967 when Hubert and his wife purchased this homestead. After graduation from Marshfield Senior High School Hubert entered the Marine Corps and proudly served his country for three years at Camp Pendleton California where he excelled as an expert sharpshooter until his honorable discharge. On October 19, 1963 Hubert married the former (Marie) Karen Kappel at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Marshfield. This October they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage. Karen told of their exchange of wedding gifts. Karen received a beautiful sterling silver engraved rosary. Hubert was given a long coveted Beretta 12 ga. shotgun, a gift that is very valuable today. These gifts were meaningful and still treasured. Hubert continued to own and operate the homestead dairy farm with his children until his retirement in November of 2003. Hubert was devoted to his family and his farm and always willing to walk out of the barn in his rubber boots and enjoy a game of softball or whatever his kids were playing. Memberships included Saint Michael's Catholic Church, a local muzzle loaders club, and the NRA. He was a 4-H swine leader and softball coach for the Webster 4-H. He was a helpful guide and mentor to his kids when they showed their prized cattle. Hobbies included fishing, hunting, Packer games, polka dancing, and country music. He was a master at leather and wood working and building and finishing guns. Hubert was an avid reader and loved crossword puzzles. To those who knew him best, Hubert loved fixing things usually by jiggling, tapping, duct taping or the use of baler twine. Although he loved deer hunting, his family knew the most important part was sitting under a tree, eating his lunch, and taking a nap. Hubert was discovered taking secret trips to the casino when Karen checked his truck mileage. Hubert also always got in trouble digging up seeds in her garden to see if they had sprouted. Little ray of sunshine Bianca soon learned to say "Grandpa did it" for anything and everything anybody did. Hubert said he and his wife had a good life. He deeply loved his children and said they were five of the best times, giving him seven wonderful grandkids. Survivors include his loving wife, (Marie) Karen Welniak of Marshfield; his children: Mark (Sandra) Welniak, Beth (Damian) Willcome, Kyle Welniak, and Janel (fiance Charles Schill) Welniak, all of Marshfield. As well as Kim (David) Keech of Wisconsin Rapids. His grandchildren are: Chris and Carmen Welniak, Dominic and Sterling Willcome, Bianca Welniak, all of Marshfield; and twins Kaitlyn and Kayla Keech of Wisconsin Rapids. Three sisters survive: Sister Monica Jean Welniak of Elm Grove, Gloria Welniak of Madison, and Patti (Dave) Wester of Elroy along with nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Hubert was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Alvina (Bill) Hansen.