Leslie Huber

Leslie F. "Les" Huber, age 93 of Watertown, passed away Saturday, April 21, 2018. Les was born on August 8, 1924, to Otto and Edna (Dutcher) Huber. He was raised during the Depression on a small dairy farm near Medford, Wisconsin, 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, Wisconsin, 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 an 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 these as the most rewarding years of his career. In addition to numerous agribusiness accomplishments that were adapted 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 let 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 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, Nevada. In 2009, he and his sons developed an annual tradition of a weekend or two to Laughlin, the last being in February of 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, were he enjoyed walleye fishing, side trips to the Lake of the Torches and time with the family. Another goal that Les met was the development of several subdivisions, projects he started at the age of 80. A goal that 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, Florida, Gregory Huber of Wausau, Lori (Bruce) Wagner of Watertown, Gary Huber of Columbus, Grant (Jolene) Huber of Madison and Lisa Huber of Custer; seven grandchildren, P.J., Jamie, Belinda, Megan, Cloe, 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 a son-in-law, Bill Klish, in 2015.

Visitation

Friday, April 27, 2018 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home
, United States

Visitation

Saturday, April 28, 2018 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Henry Catholic Church
412 N 4th St Watertown 53094, United States