Cletus Wunderlin
December 17, 1921 - November 10, 2014
Obituary
Cletus J. Wunderlin, 92, of Platteville, died on November 10, 2014 at Southwest Health Center, Platteville. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 14, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Rev. Faustino Ruiz will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Platteville. Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, where there will be a parish rosary at 3:45 p.m. or from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Friday, at the church. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is assisting the family. Memorial may be made to the Cletus J. Wunderlin Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.
Cletus was born on December 17, 1921, to the late Joe and Laura (Linden) Wunderlin, at their home in Platteville. He went to Maple Glen School, a one room school house, located on his family's' property, then graduated from Platteville High School. He was raised and helped on his family farm in rural Platteville and also took a farm short course at the Platteville State Teachers College (UW-Platteville). He was drafted into the Army and served as a medic in WWII from 1942-1945.
He married the late Lucille Rieser on June 22, 1948; they had seven children and farmed until 1971; at which time he began a career as a carpenter. He dreamed of building his own house and, in his spare time, his dream was realized in 1979.
He was a devout catholic and a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he achieved the level of 4th Degree Knight. As a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, he donated his time and skills in building projects for the Church Missions and for Habitat for Humanity. He and Lucille loved to travel, play cards, and go to the Elmo Supper Club and dance. Cletus was a member of a bowling league for several years. Above all he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He had a great sense of humor and his own brothers and sisters remember him as being quite the prankster.
Cletus is survived by his children; Linda (Dan) Hardyman, Larry (Pamela) Wunderlin, Susan (Mark) Droessler, Judy (Dan) VanNatta, Dan Wunderlin, and Cheryl (Duane) Huehne; five brothers and sisters; Kathleen Schulte, Doris Kitto, Stanley (Carol) Wunderlin, Mark (Marlene) Wunderlin, and Wayne (Kris) Wunderlin; 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lucille; daughter, Lori Ann Hardy; brothers, Donald Wunderlin, David Wunderlin, Ray Wunderlin, and Lawrence Wunderlin; infant great-grandson Mason Hardy; and son-in-law, Dennis Sheldon.