Walter John Wipperfurth
Walter John Wipperfurth, age 92, passed away peacefully in his home on Lake Mendota on May 11, 2012.
Wally, son of Jerry Frank & Marie Therese (Reis) Wipperfurth, was born on January 28, 1920 in Madison. Wally was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Middleton. He graduated from Edgewood High School in 1938.
As a World War II veteran, he participated in the China & India Burma Campaign. He received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal with two Bronze Stars
He married Eleanor Louise Wermuth on May 16, 1942 in Columbia, SC. Together they had five children and lived on West Main Street in downtown Madison. Wally was a Master Cabinetmaker and worked for Brunsell Brothers Lumber Company until he retired in 1983. He made cabinets for many friends and family in his basement woodworking shop. He constructed doll houses, doll furniture and kid-sized kitchen cabinets for his daughters. He was a skilled artist and continued to work with wood–making cabinets, furniture and birdhouses right up until his death.
Wally married B’Ann Blied in October, 1979. Together they travelled the world and enjoyed the home they built on the Lake where his family’s cottage had been since 1922. They loved going to Wisconsin Badger football games at Camp Randall. Wally was captain of his High School football team and loved watching sports and old movies on television. He was an avid Cubs fan. He read all of Louis L’Amour’s western novels.
Wally is survived by his daughters, Barbara “Bobbe” Ellen (John Hawley) Marshall of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Linda Louise Becker and Nancee Marie Wipperfurth Killoran, both of Madison; his son James Allen (Jessica Ann) Wipperfurth of Middleton; his grandchildren: Jessica Marie Marshall of New York City; John Cody (Molly) Marshall of Denver, Colorado; Ann Marie Becker of Madison; Kathy “Kat” Ellen (Michael John) Jory of Exeter, England; Luke Lincoln Killoran; Kate Louise Killoran; Molly Margaret Killoran all of Madison; Michael J. Wipp of Madison; Ryan Matthew (Crystal Wolf) Wipperfurth of Poynette; Lucy Ann Wipperfurth and John Walter Wipperfurth of Middleton; his great grandsons: Joshua Garrett Watts and Alex James Wipperfurth. He is further survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law John “Jack” and Barbara Wermuth of Mt. Horeb; and many nieces and nephews.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Eleanor Louise Wermuth Wipperfuth; his daughter, Sherri Ann Wipperfurth; his sister-in-law June Grace Wermuth; his wife B’Ann Blied Wipperfurth; his sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Roy Tucker, all of Madison; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Dr. Kenneth and Virginia Humke of Green Lake.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2015 Parmenter Street, Middleton, with the Rev. Msgr. Douglas Dushack presiding.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at JOYCE-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 5701 Odana Road, Madison, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of mass on Wednesday.
Entombment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Agrace HospiceCare, Inc.
