Wayne M. DeSmidt, age 69, of rural New Holstein, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at Theda Care – Appleton Medical Center due to complications of an unknown heart disease.
He was born July 31, 1947, to the late Merlin & Doris (Hartman) DeSmidt. He graduated from Campbellsport High School in 1965. Wayne was drafted in the Army during the Vietnam War proudly serving from 1967 to 1969.
On November 2, 1966, he married Julie Becker. On October 29, 1985, he married Susan (Steffen) Birschbach; Susan preceded him in death on April 10, 2007. On December 31, 2015, he married Mary (Hendricks) Mueller.
Wayne had worked at Richardson Lumber Company before going to Borden's Dairy in Plymouth where he remained for 39 years retiring in 2009. Wayne loved the farm life; he owned his hobby farm in Town of Charlestown where he raised Herford steers; he attended many tractor shows and was a member of the Eden Thresheree Club. He was a die-hard John Deere fan, enjoyed watching Wisconsin sports (when they were winning) and watched western movies, especially those with John Wayne. He loved to drive his Ford vehicles with his faithful dogs as his co-pilots. Quick with a joke or a sly comment, with a cold Miller High Life in his hand, Wayne was his happiest making people laugh.
Survivors include his wife, Mary; children, Julie Benicke of Greenbush, Jelane (Jason) Lehto of Sheboygan, Mark (Michelle) Birschbach of Cleveland, WI, Allen (Judy) Birschbach of Grand Blanc, MI, Ashley Boortz of Chilton and Hannah Mueller of New Holstein; eight grandchildren Felicia (Albert) Ramirez, Marissa Benicke (fiancé, Tyler Kulow), Chad Benicke, Eric Benicke, Rachel Buschmann, Emily Buschmann, James Lehto, Isabella Boortz; three great-grandchildren, Isabelle & Cole Ramirez and Dollsinaya Buschmann; two brothers, Larry (Paula) DeSmidt of Kiel and Dale DeSmidt of Cascade; two sisters, Karen (Wayne) Beernink of Cedar Grove and Charlene (David) Becker of Greenbush; in-laws, Henry Hendricks of Waupun, Marlene Hendricks of Montello, Barbara (Joel) Sterk of Waupun and Helen (Mike) Behnke of Campbellsport and his life-long friend, Roger (Laurie) Peters of Cascade. He is further survived by his god-children; nieces; nephews; aunts; uncles; other relatives and many friends.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Cindy.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at the Sippel Funeral Home, 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, WI 53061. Rev. Dr. Sara Rabe will officiate. Wayne will be laid to rest at 2:15 PM that afternoon at the Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kohler with Military Rites conducted by the state Military Honors.
Visitation: Family and friends may call at the Sippel Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 29th from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Friends and family may also call at the funeral home Wednesday morning from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM.
For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home, (920) 898-4300 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net
