Albert Kwallek
August 27, 1926 - June 28, 2016
Obituary
Albert Joseph Kwallek, Jr. passed away on June 28, 2016 in Lancaster, WI at the age of 89.
Al was born on August 27, 1926, in New Auburn, WI to Albert Sr. and Freda Kwallek.
He grew up in the beautiful north woods of Wisconsin. As a boy and when not in school, he would frequently ride his bicycle 10 miles from town, out to Long Lake, one of his favorite places on earth. There, he would spend days on end fishing for the elusive musky, guiding tourists to fishing holes on the lake, and evenings sitting on the porch at the lake house with aunt Julia Campbell.
In 1944, during WWII, Al enlisted in the Army Air Corp and was stationed in France where he served as a teletype technician.
Following the war, he spent three years attending UW-Eau Claire pursuing a degree in history education. It was at UW-EC that a professor told Al, “He was suited to be a man of the Lord and a preacher.” Al had other plans, and before he finished his degree he took the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden test. He passed with a near perfect score and was offered a position with the Wisconsin DNR and made his move to the driftless area in the southwest region of the state, Grant County. He never finished his degree.
In 1951, he married the sheriff's daughter, Patricia “Pat” Gillen, despite her insistence that she despised him when they first met. The couple welcomed 7 children, 20 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. They were married for 66 years.
For the next 34 years, Al served the great state of Wisconsin and could be described by those who knew him as “stern but fair.” During his time with the DNR, he served as a union steward, and was awarded the Haskell Noyes Award for Outstanding Conservation Warden. He taught the first hunter safety courses in the state of Wisconsin. He earned the honor of the top marksman of all law enforcement in the state and was a trainer for other servicemen. After retirement, he continued to serve on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress for 30 years. He also worked for the Hudson Bay Fur Company and the Seattle Fur Exchange in Madison.
Not only was Al a servant of the state, but he was also involved in his local community by serving many years on the Lancaster Community Parks Board, Lancaster School Board, and running for Grant County Sheriff in 1988.
Al was also a mentor and leader. For many years as an Explorer Scout leader, he escorted rambunctious groups of young men into the Boundary Waters where they experienced all that the outdoors had to offer.
He was an advocate for wildlife preservation and the great Wisconsin traditions of fishing and hunting. After retirement, he would make trips to Long Lake to fish and visit with his best friend, Hugh “Snook” Reed.
Fall in Wisconsin meant deer hunting was near. As the patriarch of a large family, Al was an avid deer hunter and he passed on his knowledge of the hunt and his love and respect of the land to his sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. He enjoyed telling tall tales and was never short of constructive advice.
Al did not become a pastor, as his professor predicted, but he did become a shepherd of the land and preacher of Wisconsin's natural resources.
Al is survived by his wife, Patricia, six children: Jeffrey (Cheryl) Kwallek, Ellen (Richard) Sanson, Randal Kwallek (Jennifer Wepking), Julie (Lester) Vondra, David Kwallek (Mary Jean Drone), and Kathleen Kwallek (Virgil Schneider), grandchildren and their spouses, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Donald, sister Margaret, an infant son, Daniel, and daughter-in-law, Harla Kwallek.
Al's family will be holding a Celebration of his Life at one of his favorite locations, Wyalusing State Park, over-looking his beloved Wisconsin River. The celebration is scheduled for October 15 at 2:00PM at Wyalusing State Park in the Peterson Shelter, with a reception to follow. Please dress accordingly as this is an open air shelter.
The family welcomes all to gather and celebrate Al's life with memories and fellowship.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Albert J. Kwallek Memorial, c/o Kathleen Kwallek, 143 West Linden, Lancaster, WI 53813