Leroy (Red) Wantock

LEROY (RED) WANTOCK

LeRoy (Red) Wantock, age 81, of Cochrane/Fountain City, WI, passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at the Gundersen Health System Hospital in La Crosse, following a significant decline in his health over the last several months. His loving wife of 56 years, Marcia, was by his side.

He was born on March 17, 1934, in Winona, to Frank and Balbena (Walski) Wantock and graduated from Trempealeau High School in 1953. Red was united in marriage with Marcia Hobbs on March 30, 1959, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Creek, WI.

Red’s strong work ethic, his faith, and the love and devotion he had for his family were the foundations of his life. The value he placed on hard work was evident in the various jobs he held throughout his life, which usually found him behind the wheel. He was a truck driver and dispatcher for Madison Silo, a C-FC school bus driver, and worked highway maintenance for Town of Cross in Buffalo County. In his retirement, he worked 10 years as a scale operator for the Kraemer Company enjoying the socialization with the truck drivers. The occupation he loved most was being the owner and operator of Red’s Palm Garden Tavern with his wife, Marcia. His outgoing personality and love of people led to his success in the tavern business.

Over the years, Red enjoyed dancing, bowling, fishing, hunting, boating, family vacations, dining out and playing cards. He was a member of the Fountain City Volunteer Fire Department, served on the Buffalo County Fair Board, and was a member of the Buffalo County Tavern League. His innovative nature earned him a membership in the Farm Journal’s $100 Idea Club.

Red was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fountain City and also attended Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona.

He will be remembered for his kind, fun-loving nature and great sense of humor and will be missed by those who knew and loved him. One of his favorite sayings was, “If Fleet Farm doesn’t have it – you don’t need it!”

Red is lovingly survived by his wife, Marcia; children: Kathy (Norbert) Bork; Karen Wantock; Ron Wantock; Renae (Kailey Smith) Wantock; and Kristi Pronschinske; siblings: Lorraine Ashelin; Franklin (Ardyth) Wantock; and Dorothy (Gary) Ruppert; grandchildren: Jason (Lisa) Bork; Josh (Trudy Piner) Bork; Jesse (Bonnie) Bork; Justin (Amber) Bork; Jackson (Rachael Tepe) Bork; Jolene (Alex Sander) Bork; Dylan (Meenakshi Sharma) Pronschinske; great-grandchildren: Samantha, Trinity, Gwen, Evie, Aurora, Natalie, KayLinda, Declan, RayElla, Lilly, and Jase; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; great-grandson, Adam Bork; son-in-law: Allen Pronschinske; brother-in-law: Vincent Ashelin; nephew: Donald Ashelin; and a niece: Whitley Thompson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. The Reverend Jonathan Fasnacht will officiate.

Red will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Pine Creek, WI.

Visitation will be held at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home on Monday, February 8, 2016, from 4 PM until 7 PM, where a time to share memories will be held at 6:30 PM, followed by the Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary. Visitation will also be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, from 9:30 AM until the time of the Mass.

Pallbearers will be Red’s grandsons.

Memorials may be directed to the Sacred Heart Cemetery Association in Pine Creek, WI.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Red’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.