WATERTOWN - Leslie F. "Les" Huber, age 93, of Watertown, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2018. Les was born on Aug. 8, 1924, to Otto and Edna (Dutcher) Huber. He was raised during the Depression on a small diary farm near Medford, Wis., graduating from Medford high School in 1942. He was the first in his family to attend college, putting himself through the UW-Madison working various jobs, graduating in 1949 with a degree in Agricultural Education. Les credited his 4-H experience from ages 10-18 as having "set the course for my future professional career." In 1952, when he and Ellen Brooks met in Monroe, Wis., the course for his future family life was set.
Les's first job after college was as the Agricultural Instructor for Veterans on the Farm Training Program at the Rib Lake High School from 1949-1952. In 1952, he was hired in Monroe as the UW Extension 4-H Club Agent for Green County. This is where he met Ellen Brooks, an R.N. working as a Monroe County school nurse. He and Ellen married on May 9, 1953, at St. Victor's Catholic Church in Monroe. In 1954, he and Ellen moved to Wausau when he began employment in the Marathon County Extension as a farm management agent, a role he continued in Dodge and Jefferson Counties until his retirement in 1984. He described theses as the most rewarding years of his career. In addition to numerous agribusiness accomplishments that were adopted into practice through the UW System and the Midwest, he raised a family, was active in the community, created, owned and operated CW Farm Market and CW Christmas trees from 1970 until 2016 and completed a master's degree in Agricultural Economics in 1977, which led to a promotion at UW-Madison to the academic rank of Professor in 1979.
Les was active in Watertown through the Lion's Club, having first joined in 1958, while living in Wausau, and at St. Henry's Catholic Church, as well as being a 4-H and scout leader in earlier years.
He always enjoyed grouse hunting, deer hunting and, for many years, annual fishing trips to Canada. Following his 1984 retirement, Les and Ellen began a 25 year tradition of spending two months every winter in Laughlin Nev. In 2009, he and his sons developed an annual tradition of a weekend, or two, to Laughlin, the last being in February 2018. Les and Ellen also traveled to Alaska, Hawaii and Ireland. In 2000, Les was delighted to build a family cottage on Spirit Lake, near Rib Lake, where he enjoyed walleye fishing, side trips to the Lake of the Torches and time with family.
Another goal that Les met was the development of several subdivision, projects he started at the age of 80. A goal he did not meet was outliving his recently renewed driver's license. In his own words, he lived quite a life.
Les is survived by his six children, Lynn Huber (Doug Simmons) of Port Orange, Fla., Gregory Huber of Wausau, Lori (Bruce) Wanger of Watertown, Gary Huber of Columbus, Grant (Jolene) Huber of Madison and Lisa Huber of Custer; seven grandchildren, P.J., Jamie, Belinda, Megan, Chloe, Greta and Grace; and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his siblings, Lela Bokath, Harold Huber, Leona Tomandl, Pearl Dawson and Irene Werner; His wife, Ellen, in 2012; his grandson, Kevin Wagner, in 2015; and son-in-law, Bill Klish, in 2015.
Friends may call at SCHMUTZLER-VICK FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE on Friday, April 27, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be ehld at ST. HENRY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, with the Very Rev. Patrick Wendler officiating, at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2018. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will follow the service at St. Bernard's Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.watertownwifuneralhome.com.
Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home & Cremation Service
500 Welsh Road, Watertown, Wis.
Les's first job after college was as the Agricultural Instructor for Veterans on the Farm Training Program at the Rib Lake High School from 1949-1952. In 1952, he was hired in Monroe as the UW Extension 4-H Club Agent for Green County. This is where he met Ellen Brooks, an R.N. working as a Monroe County school nurse. He and Ellen married on May 9, 1953, at St. Victor's Catholic Church in Monroe. In 1954, he and Ellen moved to Wausau when he began employment in the Marathon County Extension as a farm management agent, a role he continued in Dodge and Jefferson Counties until his retirement in 1984. He described theses as the most rewarding years of his career. In addition to numerous agribusiness accomplishments that were adopted into practice through the UW System and the Midwest, he raised a family, was active in the community, created, owned and operated CW Farm Market and CW Christmas trees from 1970 until 2016 and completed a master's degree in Agricultural Economics in 1977, which led to a promotion at UW-Madison to the academic rank of Professor in 1979.
Les was active in Watertown through the Lion's Club, having first joined in 1958, while living in Wausau, and at St. Henry's Catholic Church, as well as being a 4-H and scout leader in earlier years.
He always enjoyed grouse hunting, deer hunting and, for many years, annual fishing trips to Canada. Following his 1984 retirement, Les and Ellen began a 25 year tradition of spending two months every winter in Laughlin Nev. In 2009, he and his sons developed an annual tradition of a weekend, or two, to Laughlin, the last being in February 2018. Les and Ellen also traveled to Alaska, Hawaii and Ireland. In 2000, Les was delighted to build a family cottage on Spirit Lake, near Rib Lake, where he enjoyed walleye fishing, side trips to the Lake of the Torches and time with family.
Another goal that Les met was the development of several subdivision, projects he started at the age of 80. A goal he did not meet was outliving his recently renewed driver's license. In his own words, he lived quite a life.
Les is survived by his six children, Lynn Huber (Doug Simmons) of Port Orange, Fla., Gregory Huber of Wausau, Lori (Bruce) Wanger of Watertown, Gary Huber of Columbus, Grant (Jolene) Huber of Madison and Lisa Huber of Custer; seven grandchildren, P.J., Jamie, Belinda, Megan, Chloe, Greta and Grace; and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his siblings, Lela Bokath, Harold Huber, Leona Tomandl, Pearl Dawson and Irene Werner; His wife, Ellen, in 2012; his grandson, Kevin Wagner, in 2015; and son-in-law, Bill Klish, in 2015.
Friends may call at SCHMUTZLER-VICK FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE on Friday, April 27, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be ehld at ST. HENRY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, with the Very Rev. Patrick Wendler officiating, at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2018. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will follow the service at St. Bernard's Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.watertownwifuneralhome.com.
Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home & Cremation Service
500 Welsh Road, Watertown, Wis.