Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Robert Wampole
Robert “Bob” Wampole, 85, of Fairchild, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, 2015 under Mayo Hospice Care at the Augusta Area Nursing Home.
Robert was born on July 3, 1930, one of 16 children born to Robert and Elsie (Ames) Wampole. He was raised in the Fairchild area where he graduated from Fairchild High School in 1948. Following graduation Bob served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from Dec. of 1951 through Nov. of 1953. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Wisconsin where he met and married Ethel Batty on Oct. 17, 1959 in Franksville. The couple moved to Fairchild in 1960. After Ethel passed away on August 10, 1990, Bob married Dinieta “Dee” (Baumbach) Thurmond on Aug. 8, 1992 in Fairchild. In addition to farming north of Fairchild, Bob had worked at Presto Industries in Eau Claire and before retiring in 1992, he had worked 20 years at Nelson Muffler in Neillsville. Bob was a very hard working man that always kept himself busy, often working on projects for someone else. He loved spending time in the woods, be it hunting or cutting wood. Bob had a very kind personality who enjoyed visiting with family and friends and was never too busy to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
Bob never had kids of his own but was step father to 13 step children and grandfather and great grandfather to their families, as well as an uncle to many. Bob loved them all. After he retired, his step grandchildren Alyssa and Andrew came into his life. He and Alyssa did everything together; cut wood, raised puppies, picked fruit and made jelly. Together they canned many jars of jelly to sell or give away to friends and family. He had the opportunity to take Andrew on a 2 week vacation out west and saw sights that most people only dream about.
Bob is survived by his wife, Dinieta (Dee) of Osseo; 10 step children, several step grandchildren with their families and also by 5 siblings. His step children with Dee; Darryl (Diane) Holst of Beaver Dam, John Holst of Eleva, Frankie Thurmond of Osseo, Carl (Kelly Zimbauer) Thurmond of Alma Center, Norma “Missy” (Brian) Welker of Eau Claire, Tina (John) Severson of Osseo; step children with Ethel; Ray Kirchoff of Fairchild, Dave (Jeannie) Kirchoff of Augusta, Kenny (Cindy) Kirchoff of Kenosha, Marcia (Glen) Heath of Racine; brother, Boyd Wampole of Manitowoc; 3 sisters, Avis Abrahamson of Eau Claire, Reva (Gerald) Flick of Holman, Nadine Hennaman of Milwaukee; 2 sisters-in-law, Margaret Wampole of Fairchild, Iris Wampole of Madison; many nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is also survived by the spouses of his step children who have passed away, Jim Reetz and Connie Kirchoff both of Neillsville, and John Kruschke of Fairchild.
Bob was preceded in death by his father Robert in August of 1973; mother Elsie in October of 1982; brothers, Gerald, Walter, Lyle, Royce, Stanley and Delbert Wampole; sisters, Vernice Wagner, Ida Buend, Sadie Marten, Edith Hennaman and Ione Swanson; and step children, Don Kirchoff, Patricia Kruschke and Linda Reetz.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home and also one hour prior to services Friday at the funeral home.
