John A. Wuolle

John A Wuolle, age 101, formerly of Stoddard and Viroqua WI, passed away on Wednesday, December 20th at Schmitt Woodland Hills in Richland Center.   He was born November 08, 1922 in Kalajoki, Finland to Anton and Hilma Wuolle.  John’s mother emigrated from Finland to bring her family to the U.S where her husband Anton was already settled in East Chicago, Indiana.

In his younger years John was very adventurous.  At the age of 17 he hitchhiked 6,000 miles round trip from Indiana to the West Coast to find work and earn money for his family.  John was sheltering at a Baptist mission while in Yakima Washington and it was here that he heard the Gospel and decided to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.  John joined the Navy in 1942 and served 6 years as an Aviation Machinist during WWII and was stationed in Pensacola FL and North Africa.

While in the Navy he was hit by a vehicle that broke his right upper leg.  He was sent home and during his 3 months of recuperation he met a beautiful young lady, Eileen Charlotte Anderson, who became his wife on October 31st, 1944.  In 2004 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

They made a family together with five children and initially lived in Indiana, then moved to Hillsboro, Wisconsin to try his hand at farming.  After 14 years the family moved to a larger farm in Genoa, then to Stoddard in 1979, DeSoto in 1997, Viroqua in 2006 and finally to Richland Center in 2022.  John also worked at Trane Co. as a tool and die maker from 1956 until his retirement in 1987.  Retirement included wintering in Lakeland Florida and enjoying shuffleboard, bowling, Euchre and lots of dancing.

John was named Tree Farmer of the Year in 1981 after planting 10,000 trees on his farm in Genoa.  In 1987 his farm also hosted the Vernon County Dairy Breakfast.  In 1985-1986 he went to Venezuela and Jamaica for missionary trips to help build schools and a church.

John has been a member of St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1969.

John is survived by 4 children: Linda (Brian) Gaasrud of Lake Villa, IL; Martin Wuolle of Apache Junction, AZ; Kevin (Nanci) Wuolle of Lakeland, FL; and Sandra (Brian) Jewell of Richland Center, WI; 11 grandchildren, 1 step grandchild, 14 great-grandchildren, 2 step great-grandchildren, 2 Great-great-Grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

Johns is preceded in death by his wife Eileen Wuolle in 2005; parents Anton and Hilma Wuolle; son Jack Wuolle; infant grandson Eric Gaasrud; daughter-in-law Carol Wuolle; brother Al Wuolle; sister Ilmi Paul; and special friend Clara Leckinger.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stoddard with Pastor Silas Schmitzer officiating. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until service time. Burial with military honors to follow at the Stoddard Cemetery.  A celebration of life will also be held on Sunday, January 7th at 1 pm at The Woodbrook Community Center in Lakeland FL, with speakers Jery Sleadge and the Woodbrook Veterans.  The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family. Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Agrace Hospice, or Schmidt Woodland Hills of Richland Center, WI.