Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 60 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Alfred Kuenkel
Alfred Paul Kuenkel, 82, of Neillsville, passed away November 9, 2013 at Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation.
The oldest of two children, Alfred was born December 21, 1930, on the Kuenkel family farm. For eighty years of his life, Alfred spent only three nights away from the farm. Alfred graduated 8th grade from the one room Worshel School, a two mile walk from the farm. He learned his writing and arithmetic lessons well, as evidenced by the many years of meticulous farm expense records he kept. When he left the farm in 2011, all those ledger books were still neatly stacked in the kitchen drawer. Alfred served as secretary for the bowling league at the Silver Dome Lanes for over 20 years. All those records, in his small, neat penmanship, were also still in the kitchen cupboard. His attention to fine detail is obvious in the embroidery he did as a young man. Alfred could embroider with the best of them! He left behind a beautiful collection of tablecloths, doilies and dresser scarves.
The past was never far from Alfred’s thoughts. He made daily diary entries for over 30 years. Consequently, he could tell us when the corn had been planted in 1952… or the date of the first frost in 1960.
In 2007, Alfred was presented a Century Farm Award from the Wisconsin State Fair Board for 100 continuous years of family farming. He was very proud of the award but sad that there would be no more Kuenkels to continue on the farm.
Alfred was raised to value hard work and a thrifty lifestyle. He was also raised to have fun with friends and family. The old Globe/Willard neighbors used any excuse to get together for a card party and lunch! At an early age, Alfred became an avid Sheepshead player. His favorite time of year was deer hunting, when eighteen hunters would descend upon the Kuenkel farm. Sheepshead was played late into the nights and sometime Alfred went from the Sheepshead table straight to the barn for early morning milking.
Due to declining health, Alfred moved to the Sunset Gardens at Neillsville, in September of 2011. There he was delighted to discover a group of Sheepshead players, whom he immediately joined!
Alfred is survived by his sister, Elaine Duge, Menomonie, and his three nieces, Carla (Gordy) Zimmerman of Hayward, Carmen (Stan) Johnson and Becky (Kurt) Rudesill all of Menomonie. He is also survived by his very large cut, Buddy Kuenkel.
In remembrance of Alfred, friends are invited to join the family for a time of visiting and refreshments on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the recreation room of the Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation.
Alfred will be buried along side his parents, Paul and Rose (Ockeral) Kuenkel in the Neillsville City Cemetery.
