Obit: Schmutzler, Woodrow Louis “Woody” (1936- 2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Schmutzler, Hanne, Halverson, Valle, Ingram, Markworth, Bores, Pierce, Weitzenkamp, Simm, Fox, Ponshock, White, Birschbach, Bauer, Witte, Gustafson, Jedras, Bolstand

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Colby, Clark Co., WI) 1/30/2021

Schmutzler, Woodrow Louis “Woody” (2 December 1936 – 30 January 2021)

Woodrow Louis Schmutzler, age 84, of Riplinger, passed away peacefully in his home under the care of Ascension (Hospice at Home) of Marshfield on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

Woody Jr was born on December 2, 1936 in the Town of Hull-Marathon Co., the son of Woodrow and Audrey (Hanne) Schmutzler, Sr. He attended Colby Grade School and in 1949 he moved to Riplinger and attended Soo Grove School. In 1956 he graduated from Loyal High School.

In his early years he worked as a mechanic for his father at Woody's Auto Repair in Riplinger. He also was employed at the Box Factory in Riplinger, Thomas Auto Sales in Loyal, Zupanc Motors in Loyal. Later, Woody worked for 31 years as a metal fabricator at Felker Bros in Marshfield retiring in 1999.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Riplinger and served as former trustee of the church and also on the cemetery committee. Woody was a charter member of the Rip Riders Snowmobile Club since 1972 He enjoyed grooming the trails for many years - first driving the old LMC groomer and later on a new John Deere Tractor. In 2020, the Rip Riders Snowmobile Club honored him by dedicating the Unity Snowmobile Trail in his memory (along with his father, Woody Sr). They both put in countless hours of maintaining and grooming trails. The signs that were put on the trail in memory of them were constructed by Payton Porter.

Woody raced stock cars from 1959-1966 at Rangeline and Stratford race tracks and many times he received the checkered flag - 1st place.

He enjoyed many years of rifle hunting in the Neillsville area and bow hunting around Riplinger with his family. In his later years, Woody enjoyed many years of hunting in the Prentice area with his cousins, Dean Witte and Frank Gustafson. His last years of hunting were in 2017-2018 in the Fall River area with his son-in-law, Dan. Woody has many trophies hanging on the walls displaying his successful years.

Woody also was an avid trout fisherman - fishing up north in the spring near Ashland with his son, Todd. He also enjoyed fishing around area lakes for walleyes and crappies with his wife, his brother, Allen, his son, Todd and his grandson, Sawyer.

Woody enjoyed camping with the family at Mead Lake and telling stories by the campfire. His other interests were snowmobiling with family and traveling on many bus trips with his wife. He especially enjoyed his trip to Alaska in 2001. On their 25th anniversary, their children presented them with a hot air balloon ride over the St Croix River by Stillwater MN, which was another highlight in his life.
Most of all, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him many happy years of enjoyment. He especially enjoyed the time watching and caring for the 2 youngest Riplinger grandsons in their early years, Sawyer and Mason.

When his health began to waiver he finally found time to enjoy watching Westerns on TV, especially Gunsmoke.

He married Diane Halverson on June 21, 1958. The marriage ended in divorce. On April 13, 1984, Woody married Sherry Valle at St John's Lutheran Church in Riplinger

Steadfast husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and neighbor - a truly remarkable teacher both wise and generous. He will be dearly missed.

Woody is survived by his wife, Sherry; two daughters: Lore Jean (Roy) Ingram of Wisconsin Rapids and Wendy Jo (Christopher) Markworth of Marshfield; one son: Todd Allen (Diane) Schmutzler of Riplinger; three step-daughters: Michelle Marie Bores of Marshfield, Wendy Anne (Robert) Pierce of Greenwood Village, CO and Sara Catherine (Daniel) Weitzenkamp of Houlton, WI; 6 grandchildren: Jessica Jo (Allison) Simm of Madison and children, Audrina and Archer; Tanya (Brandon) Fox of Vesper and children Eisley, Hailey and Huntley and Matthew (Sammie) Ponshock of Marshfield and children, Amelia and Charlotte; Brandon (Jessica) White of Marshfield, Sawyer Schmutzler of Riplinger and Mason Schmutzler of Riplinger. He is further survived two brothers: James (Elsie) Schmutzler of Riplinger and Allen (Penny) Schmutzler of Riplinger; one sister-in-law: Sharleen Birschbach of Lamartine.

He is also survived by his extended family including four step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and their families and many longtime friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters: Darlene Schmutzler (at infancy), Sally Bauer (in 2016) and also one sister-in-law: Sandra Schmutzler.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church (No Spencer) 210167 Hwy 13 Spencer on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Rev. Lowell Bolstand (Interim Pastor of St John's) will be officiating, and Rev Wes Jedras (Hospice Chaplain) will deliver the message. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. There will be no burial. Family and friends can watch the service live on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or their website. We encourage those in attendance to abide by the Covid-19 guidelines by sanitizing, wearing a mask (if able) and social distancing. Pallbearers will be Sawyer and Mason Schmutzler, grandsons.

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home is assisting family with funeral arrangements.

Special thank you to Hospice Chaplain, Wes Jedras, for his weekly visits and to his nurses, Wanda and Amy, and social worker, Mariah for their tender care to Woody while under Hospice.

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