Frank Waschbisch, 85, Oconto Falls, died suddenly Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2024, of natural causes at home with family present.
He was born Feb. 12, 1939, on the family farm in the Town of Oconto Falls to Peter and Margaret (Gallagher) Waschbisch. Frank grew up on the family farm where he learned to work hard and to care for animals. He found great enjoyment in the field work that came with farming 500-plus acres.
On June 30, 1962, he married Jeanne Guelig in Lena. Following their marriage the couple settled in rural Oconto Falls and together had five children. Frank farmed for many years while developing an interest in wildlife and exotic animals. What began as a hobby expanded to include pheasants, white-tailed deer, elk, donkeys, fox and raccoon and became a business, Oconto River Elk.
Frank will be fondly remembered for the fun he had interacting with kids, fishing with family and friends and telling a “dad” joke or three. “What did one snowman say to the other snowman?” – “Do you smell carrots?”
He loved taking gator rides all over the country and fishing on his boats, one of which he named “Too Fat Frank.” He and his best buddy, George Yatso, had many secret fishing holes, the locations of which will now never be known. Frank told many stories of his annual Canada fishing trips that he shared with his son Ron, brother-in-law Ken, nephews Bryan and Joe, and great-nephews Garrett, Trevor and Brody, along with many other family members and friends throughout the years.
Survivors are his four children, Connie (Jeff Zeitler) Waschbisch, Pound, Ron Waschbisch, Oconto Falls, Marilyn (Scott Anderson) Waschbisch, Pulaski, and Bob (Lisa) Waschbisch, Coleman; his honorary grandchildren, Scarlett, Hannah and Ella Olson, Charlee and Lucy Haws, Dirk and Millie Zeitler; two sisters, Mary (Ken) Kohls, Gillett, and Norma Adams, Oconto Falls; nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jeanne, on Feb. 20, 2021; an infant son, Jeffrey John Waschbisch; three brothers, Jim, Kenny and Norbert Waschbisch; and one sister, Dorothy Stoll.
Visitation will be held after 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls until the time of service. A prayer service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Deacon Peter Gard presiding. Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to Oconto River Kids, P.O. Box 288, Mountain, WI 54149, or Oconto River Trout Unlimited, P.O. Box 252, Gillett, WI 54124, Memo: Waschbisch Kids Fishing Memorial.
Frank Waschbisch
