Wilfred Julius Sandridge
Belleville, WI – Wilfred Julius Sandridge passed on May 5, 2021, at the age of 94 at Azura Memory Care in Monroe.
He was born October 16, 1926, in the Town of Montrose, Belleville. He grew up on the Zweifel-Sandridge family farm helping his parents, Hosea and Sadie Sandridge. He attended Montrose Grade School, New Glarus High School, and graduated from Belleville High School in 1944.
On June 11, 1945, Wilfred married his high school sweetheart, Ethel Smith. Together they farmed with his parents until 1953 when they purchased a home in Belleville. He was then employed by Pet Milk, Pure Milk Association, AMPI, and Deltown where he was a lab technician for 35 years. After the closing of Deltown, he was employed by Conney Safety Products in Madison until his retirement.
Wilfred was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical Reformed Church now the First United Church of Christ in Belleville. He was active in the church serving as Elder, Deacon, and Consistory President. He was a 50-year member of New Glarus Masonic Lodge #310 and served as Master and several other offices. He had been a member of Royal Arch Masons and Order of the Eastern Star. He was also active with Boy Scouts for several years.
Wilfred and Ethel belonged to National Square Dancers and enjoyed square dancing and round dancing traveling to many states, Canada, and Europe. Wilfred was an avid gardener and sportsman enjoying fishing and hunting. He also was a trapper of mink and muskrat in his earlier years, carefully preparing the pelts to receive top dollar.
In 1989 Wilfred and Ethel decided to spend winters in Texas where they became active in mission work with Children’s Haven International in Reynosa, Mexico. During the other months they volunteered at the New Glarus Home.
Wilfred is survived by his daughter, Sandy (John) Colstad and his son, Gary (Valerie) Sandridge; his grandchildren, Kimberly (Dan) Hefty, Heidi (Joby) Hoff, and Eric (Erica) Colstad; and great-grandsons, Aiden, Dylan, and Ethan Colstad; sister-in-law, Fran Zimmerman, brother-in-law, Raymond (Gurine) Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wilfred was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, his parents, his sister, Juanita Kluever; brothers-in-law, Albert, Elmer “Bud”, and Arthur Smith; and sisters-in-law, Betty Schmidt, and Mary Lou Marty Ryan.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI with the Rev. Laura Kolden officiating. Inurnment with Masonic services will follow at the Belleville Cemetery.
A gathering will precede memorial service from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Friday, May 14, 2021 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home in Belleville.
Memorials may be made to First United Church of Christ or Agrace HospiceCare, Inc.
Online condolences may be given at www.bealfuneralhomes.com
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