NEW GLARUS - Rev. Dr. Linus L. Wierwill, age 87, passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the New Glarus Home. He was born on October 31, 1924, at New Knoxville, OH, the son of Benjamin and Wilhelmina (Fledderjohann) Wierwille. He married Virginia A. Engelking of Sheboygan, WI on June 8, 1948. She preceded him in death on May 29, 1997.
He is survived by a son, Dr. Bryan L. (Rose) Wierwill of Verona, WI; a daughter Deborah (Randall) Engen of McFarland, WI; four grandchildren Benjamin Wierwill, Kate Wierwill, Nicholas Engen, and Ericka (Garrett) Graham.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and two sisters, Velma Koepke of Canton, OH, and Luella Eversman of New Knoxville, OH, and one brother Rev. Nathan Wierwille of New Knoxville, OH.
Dr. Linus L. Wierwill graduated from New Knoxville High School and also attended Lakeland College, Sheboygan, WI, Mission House Theological Seminary, Sheboygan, WI, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He was ordained in the ministry in 1948. He served parishes in Middleton, WI, Lafayette, IN, New Glarus, WI, and Ridge Manor, FL. He had been the treasurer of the Southwest Association of the Wisconsin Conference (UCC) for many years, and was the fund raising treasurer for the building of the New Glarus Home, where he passed away. He raised monies from the churches in the Wisconsin Conference to build the New Glarus Home. He had also been a Board member of the Upper Sandusky Ohio Home for the aged. He participated in many organizations in the church at large.
Pastor Wierwill was called to the Immanuel Church in Lafayette, IN in 1952 where he headed a large building program. The new church was completely paid for in a three year period of time, after he had installed and dedicated a very successful fund raising program.
He was elected to and attended, as a delegate, the denominations General Synod meeting in Boston.
Linus loved sports and his favorite being basketball. He started playing when he was five years old.
Our family had found out that he had scored thirty nine points in one game at New Knoxville High School, a record which stood for many years. We then found out that he made forty six points in one game during 1946 in college. This was the nation's high that year among all colleges and universities. He was a member of the Lakeland College Hall of Fame. He played during the 1940's when there was no three point shot.
He had an opportunity to play with a professional basketball team, but after due consideration, decided it would interfere too much with his classes, due to road trips and out-of -town night games, conflicting in training and preparation for the Christian Ministry. He also had a good job on campus at the time in charge of the "campus store", soda fountain and grill.
Linus was a huge "Badger Fan", and was a member of the University of Wisconsin Badger Booster Club for many years. He always said that before he died he wanted to see an outright Big Ten Football Championship and outright Big Ten Basketball Championship at Wisconsin. Both have come to pass.
Dr. Linus L. Wierwill was in the Christian Ministry for forty five years. He decided to go in the ministry when he was in second grade. He and his wife, Virginia, retired from Ridge Manor, FL on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993, and moved to McFarland, WI to be with family. One of Linus's favorite sayings was, "The answer to life and death is found through the cross."
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 28, 2012 at the Swiss United Church of Christ, 18 Fifth Ave., New Glarus, WI with the Rev. Craig Jan-McMahon officiating with burial in the Swiss Church Cemetery.
Relatives and friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Ave., New Glarus, WI.
A memorial fund has been established. An online memorial with guestbook is available at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.
He is survived by a son, Dr. Bryan L. (Rose) Wierwill of Verona, WI; a daughter Deborah (Randall) Engen of McFarland, WI; four grandchildren Benjamin Wierwill, Kate Wierwill, Nicholas Engen, and Ericka (Garrett) Graham.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and two sisters, Velma Koepke of Canton, OH, and Luella Eversman of New Knoxville, OH, and one brother Rev. Nathan Wierwille of New Knoxville, OH.
Dr. Linus L. Wierwill graduated from New Knoxville High School and also attended Lakeland College, Sheboygan, WI, Mission House Theological Seminary, Sheboygan, WI, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He was ordained in the ministry in 1948. He served parishes in Middleton, WI, Lafayette, IN, New Glarus, WI, and Ridge Manor, FL. He had been the treasurer of the Southwest Association of the Wisconsin Conference (UCC) for many years, and was the fund raising treasurer for the building of the New Glarus Home, where he passed away. He raised monies from the churches in the Wisconsin Conference to build the New Glarus Home. He had also been a Board member of the Upper Sandusky Ohio Home for the aged. He participated in many organizations in the church at large.
Pastor Wierwill was called to the Immanuel Church in Lafayette, IN in 1952 where he headed a large building program. The new church was completely paid for in a three year period of time, after he had installed and dedicated a very successful fund raising program.
He was elected to and attended, as a delegate, the denominations General Synod meeting in Boston.
Linus loved sports and his favorite being basketball. He started playing when he was five years old.
Our family had found out that he had scored thirty nine points in one game at New Knoxville High School, a record which stood for many years. We then found out that he made forty six points in one game during 1946 in college. This was the nation's high that year among all colleges and universities. He was a member of the Lakeland College Hall of Fame. He played during the 1940's when there was no three point shot.
He had an opportunity to play with a professional basketball team, but after due consideration, decided it would interfere too much with his classes, due to road trips and out-of -town night games, conflicting in training and preparation for the Christian Ministry. He also had a good job on campus at the time in charge of the "campus store", soda fountain and grill.
Linus was a huge "Badger Fan", and was a member of the University of Wisconsin Badger Booster Club for many years. He always said that before he died he wanted to see an outright Big Ten Football Championship and outright Big Ten Basketball Championship at Wisconsin. Both have come to pass.
Dr. Linus L. Wierwill was in the Christian Ministry for forty five years. He decided to go in the ministry when he was in second grade. He and his wife, Virginia, retired from Ridge Manor, FL on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993, and moved to McFarland, WI to be with family. One of Linus's favorite sayings was, "The answer to life and death is found through the cross."
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 28, 2012 at the Swiss United Church of Christ, 18 Fifth Ave., New Glarus, WI with the Rev. Craig Jan-McMahon officiating with burial in the Swiss Church Cemetery.
Relatives and friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Ave., New Glarus, WI.
A memorial fund has been established. An online memorial with guestbook is available at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.