LeRoy Wayne Budtke

Hewitt — LeRoy Wayne Budtke, age 74, of Hewitt, Wisconsin passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, January 24, 2022, at Marshfield Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 7735 Yellowstone Drive in Hewitt on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dean Pingel officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Hewitt Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation for LeRoy will be held at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home 1010 East Veterans Parkway, on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and again one hour before the time of the service on Thursday at the church. LeRoy was born at home on May 9, 1947, in the Town of Green Valley to Arthur and Verna (Petri) Budtke. He attended McKinley County School for 2 years, then Willie County School through eighth grade. He completed his education at Purdy High School. He started his career working part-time at Equity in Stratford and then as a welder for North Star Mobile Home Factory. In 1965 he started at Marshfield Homes/Wick Building Systems where he worked as a carpenter for 43 years, retiring in 2008. He was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hewitt, Wisconsin and served on the cemetery committee. He was also the maintenance man for the church until 2020. LeRoy was a true handyman. He could do anything from a making a cutting board to building a house. He enjoyed spending time in his garage, and he could tell you exactly where every tool and bolt are located. The sign by his workbench read "If I can't fix it, it ain't broke", and that was the truth. LeRoy would often help his neighbors with repairs, projects and clearing snow from their driveways. He enjoyed working in the yard and had one of the best-looking lawns in the neighborhood. He played several songs on the accordion and enjoyed it when his grandchildren "played along" beating on plastic pails with wooden spoons. He treasured time with his family. His other hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping, playing cards, making maple syrup and wine, and going to the casino. On April 25, 1981, LeRoy married his best friend and love of his life, Jerilyn (Baird) Budtke. They built their home in Hewitt in 1982 and have lived there since. They celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary in 2021. … He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Budtke and Verna (Petri) Budtke Kroening, stepfather, Melvin Kroening, parents-in-law Richard and Mildred Baird, brother Donald Budtke Sr, brothers-in-law Arnold Meyer and Dennis Baird and sister-in-law Nancy Wunrow. Serving as pallbearers will be Benjamin Budtke, Ronald Haffenbredl, Jeffrey Steinke, Robert Elsen, David Peterson, Justin Harris, Aden Elsen, and Donald Budtke Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Waylon Budtke, James Peterson, and Charlie Budtke. If there is anything in Heaven that needs to be fixed, LeRoy probably already has the job done. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hewitt. Marshfield (Wisconsin) News Herald, Wednesday, January 26, 2022