Clarence Halberg

Clarence M. Halberg, died on November 28, 2007 at the King Veteran's Home in King, Wisconsin.

Born November 8, 1924 in Glidden, WI he grew up in Shannagolden, WI. In 1943, Clarence enlisted in the Army and served as an Army Ranger until 1946 when he returned to Wisconsin to marry the love of his life, Ruth Lenzen. Following their marriage, Clarence and Ruth moved to Wakefield, MI and built a small family of 11 children. He worked in the logging business with his brothers and his uncle Georgie Swanson. He went on to begin his own business with his brother Ellsworth, Halberg Brother's Construction, later, "C" Halberg Construction. Many roads and excavation projects in Gogebic County, to this day, bear the name, Clarence Halberg, including the Halberg Baseball Field in Wakefield, MI. For a period of time, Clarence served as the mayor of Wakefield, president of the City Council and he was active in the VFW and many social and civic organizations designed to make the world a better place. Clarence and Ruth spent a few years as snowbirds in Panama City Beach, FL, then settled in Ripon, WI at Russell Manor. In September 2007, they moved to the King Veteran' Home where Clarence where he lived out his final days with his best friend, Ruth.

Clarence was a son, a brother, a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, cousin, uncle, and a devoted child of God. He was an honest, simple, hard-working man. He was our role model, our hero, a pillar of strength who could do or fix anything. Clarence reached out and captured the hearts of everyone he met--his friendly hello, his jokes and laughter, his engaging and sincere personality. He was "any better 'n I couldn't stand it!" He was "the busiest unemployed man in the county!" He was backhoes, bulldozers, dump trucks, auctions, sheepshead, pinochle--and if you heard harmonica music, you knew Clarence wasn't far away!

Clarence was preceded in death by his father Hjalmer Halberg, his mother Amanda (Swanson) Halberg, his brothers Harold, Leroy, and Ellsworth Halberg, his sisters Edna and Eileen, and his precious grandson, Timothy Johnson. He is survived by his wife Ruth (Lenzen) Halberg, 1 brother Merlyn(Mary)Halberg of Wakefield, MI, his children Diane (George) Monti of Fairwater, WI; Susan (Tony) Paterno of Bessemer, MI; Sandy (Keith) Johnson of Panama City Beach, FL; Howie (Joanne) Halberg of Middletown, OH; James (Teresa) Halberg of Sun Prairie, WI; Dan (Debbie) Halberg of Baraboo, WI; Roger (Adele) Halberg of Eden Prairie, MN; Julie (Halberg) Coleman of Madison, WI; Karen (Darwin) Daane of Menasha, WI; Linda (Tim) McElrone of Greenfield, WI; and Randy (Tina) Halberg of Oshkosh, WI. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are a constantly-growing contingent of the Halberg family name!

Family and friends will gather to remember Clarence on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at the Messiah Lutheran Church on Mayparty Street in Ripon, WI. We will celebrate Clarence's life from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, a funeral service from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, followed by a meal that, in Clarence's memory will offer plenty of good food!

While the family welcomes floral remembrances, donations to the American Diabetes Association may also be considered.

The family of Clarence Halberg is sincerely grateful to the staff at the King Veteran's Home, Fresinius Dialysis, ThedaCare Hospice, Fountain View Nursing Home, Russell Manor, our friend Sue from M & I Bank in Ripon, Pastor Fritsch at Messiah Lutheran Church and Todd Goheen from the Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home. Special thanks to our dear friend and adopted family member, Marvin Hesse. The kindness and compassion expressed by of all of you, and countless others, made Clarence's journey through the last five difficult years just a little bit easier.

We know you are playing your harmonica and dancing the beer barrel polka through the pearly gates into the loving arms of Jesus!


Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com