Howard D. Wells age 76 of Monroe, died Saturday, October 11, 2008 at the New Glarus Home following an extended illness.
Howard was born February 18, 1932 in Monroe, the son of Orson and Lillie (Lehman) Wells. His family farmed in the Browntown area and at age 18 Howard enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars as an A & E mechanic, flight engineer and instructor before retiring in 1970 after twenty years of service. He received the Korean Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal. Howard and Frances Miller were married on June 7, 1955 at the Jordan Lutheran Church. Howard enjoyed working as a salesman for Monroe Truck Equipment and maintaining the machines for Monroe Speed Wash until retiring in 1997. He truly enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends and following his retirement he spent much of his leisure time at his cabin in Browntown. Howard was also an avid Euchre player and liked to visit with his many friends.
He was a member of the Monroe Moose Lodge #754, Air Force Sergeants Association, Monroe V.F.W. Post #2312, Monroe American Legion Post #84, and the Vietnam Veterans Chapter III for which he was proud to help sell their yearly raffle calendars.
Howard was awarded the Wisconsin Vietnam Veteran Outstanding Achievement Award in 2002.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Frances Wells of Monroe; three daughters, Donna (Steven) Wilde, Diane (Timothy) Solberger, Nancy (Timothy) Schmidt, all of Monroe; a son, Michael (Dorene) Wells of Oconomowoc, WI; twelve grandchildren, Shelli (Daniel) Tuscan, Kari and Mandi Wilde, Kayla and Nolan Solberger, Tyler, Alexa, Haley, and Kevin Schmidt, and Dustin, Eliza, and Martin Wells; two sisters, Ruth Signer and Evelyn Kubly Jacobs and a brother, Emerson (Louise) Wells, all of Monroe; several nieces and nephews; and a brother-in-law, Donald (Helen) Miller, of Monroe.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother in infancy; two nephews, Jeffrey Wells and Larry Signer; a niece, Sharon (Kubly) Priewe; and three brothers-in-law.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe. Rev. Dennis Perger of the Jordan Lutheran Church will officiate with a luncheon following at the Monroe Moose Lodge. Interment with military rites will be in the Kelly Cemetery, Cadiz Township. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established in Howard's name. To sign the online guest book go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net http://www.newcomerfuneralhome.net/.
Howard was born February 18, 1932 in Monroe, the son of Orson and Lillie (Lehman) Wells. His family farmed in the Browntown area and at age 18 Howard enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars as an A & E mechanic, flight engineer and instructor before retiring in 1970 after twenty years of service. He received the Korean Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal. Howard and Frances Miller were married on June 7, 1955 at the Jordan Lutheran Church. Howard enjoyed working as a salesman for Monroe Truck Equipment and maintaining the machines for Monroe Speed Wash until retiring in 1997. He truly enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends and following his retirement he spent much of his leisure time at his cabin in Browntown. Howard was also an avid Euchre player and liked to visit with his many friends.
He was a member of the Monroe Moose Lodge #754, Air Force Sergeants Association, Monroe V.F.W. Post #2312, Monroe American Legion Post #84, and the Vietnam Veterans Chapter III for which he was proud to help sell their yearly raffle calendars.
Howard was awarded the Wisconsin Vietnam Veteran Outstanding Achievement Award in 2002.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Frances Wells of Monroe; three daughters, Donna (Steven) Wilde, Diane (Timothy) Solberger, Nancy (Timothy) Schmidt, all of Monroe; a son, Michael (Dorene) Wells of Oconomowoc, WI; twelve grandchildren, Shelli (Daniel) Tuscan, Kari and Mandi Wilde, Kayla and Nolan Solberger, Tyler, Alexa, Haley, and Kevin Schmidt, and Dustin, Eliza, and Martin Wells; two sisters, Ruth Signer and Evelyn Kubly Jacobs and a brother, Emerson (Louise) Wells, all of Monroe; several nieces and nephews; and a brother-in-law, Donald (Helen) Miller, of Monroe.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother in infancy; two nephews, Jeffrey Wells and Larry Signer; a niece, Sharon (Kubly) Priewe; and three brothers-in-law.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe. Rev. Dennis Perger of the Jordan Lutheran Church will officiate with a luncheon following at the Monroe Moose Lodge. Interment with military rites will be in the Kelly Cemetery, Cadiz Township. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established in Howard's name. To sign the online guest book go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net http://www.newcomerfuneralhome.net/.