Earl Kimball Wichern


Earl Kimball Wichern passed away Feb. 14, 2018 at the age of 96. He was born in Baraboo on Sept. 20, 1921 to Carl and Nettie Wichern who farmed near Baraboo. Earl was a 1939 graduate of Baraboo High School. One of his first challenges and successes upon graduating was to ride his bicycle to New York City for the 1939 World's Fair with two classmates. He later published a book telling of their adventures called "Life in the Slow Track". In 1948 he married Myrtle Mae Tucker and continued farming with his parents until their respective deaths in 1963 and 1979. Earl and Myrtle continued to keep the farm operation until 1991. He had one sister, Ethel Mae Wichern who died in 1964. Earl and Myrtle were blessed with twin daughters, Linda Kay and Sandra Lee with only Sandra surviving. He and Myrtle celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1998 and Myrtle passed in March of that year. Besides the farm management, Earl would frequently comment how he was continuing his education by engaging in many other phases of business such as real estate, hardware and sporting goods, co-owing Birch Haven Ski Hill, employment with the US Dept. of Agriculture and sales and management with a Minnesota silo company. He retired in 1990 as president of a silo company in Boscobel, WI. Earl was a past member of the Baraboo Lions Club and a bass singer in several different Barbershop Quartets. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in past years and also the Baraboo Masonic Lodge. Following his retirement he volunteered for many years at the hospital and various nursing homes. Earl met Doris Pollard while volunteering together at St. Clare Meadows and they married in Sept. of 1999. Earl joined St. Joseph Catholic Church at that time. Earl and Sandi gained a new family with that marriage. Earl and Doris celebrated their 18th Anniversary just one day before Doris passed away on Spt. 21, 2017. Earl leaves behind his daughter Sandi Wichern and other relatives and friends as well as Doris's children Jim (Judy) Pollard, Mary (Tom) Perz and Tom (Lila) Pollard and their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and will be sadly missed by all. The family wishes to thank the staff of Meadow Ridge Assisted Living, St. Clare Hospital and Dr. Stuart Hannah. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Baraboo or the First United Methodist Church of Baraboo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Jay Poster officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until the time of mass at the church. Burial will follow at Walnut Hill Cemetery. The Redlin Funeral Home is assisting the family.