David Henry Soldwedel
February 08, 1937 - August 10, 2016
Obituary
OREGON-David H. Soldwedel, 79, of Oregon, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. He was born February 8, 1937, in Pekin, Ill., the eldest child of Henry and Laura Klepfer Soldwedel. After an early start in his family's farm and dairy business, Soldwedel Dairy in Pekin, Ill., Dave graduated from Wayland Academy, joined the U.S. Navy, attended William and Mary College and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. He farmed extensively in southern Wisconsin and raised Hampshire, Holstein and national championship Angus cattle, in addition to other prize-winning livestock. More notable awards include: 1955 Illinois State Fair Grand Champion Hampshire Boar; 1970 Western National Stock Show Senior Grand Champion & Reserve Grand Champion Bull; 1993 World Beef Expo Division Champion Angus; 1993 WI Angus Association Show Heifer of the Year; 1994 WI Angus Association Futurity Show Reserve Grand Champion; 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 World Beef Expo - Heifer; 2002 WI State Fair Supreme Angus Show Senior Yearling; 2002 WI State Fair Supreme Angus Show Reserve Champion Bull; 2003 WI State Fair Angus Show Champion Junior Bull; 2005 WI State Fair Angus Show Champion Calf and Champion Junior Heifer Calf. As President of Stoughton Farms, Dave was a mentor to many entering farming. Dave also worked at Cullinan and Sons in Tremont, Ill. and operated Sunset Lanes in Pekin, Ill. with his uncle, Tim Soldwedel. Dave was an athlete, an excellent tennis player, skier and golfer, and on the Wayland Academy football team. He was a member of the Brooklyn WI American Legion, the American Angus Association, Wisconsin Angus Association, Wisconsin Cattlemen Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, and a charter member of the Illinois Valley Riding Club. David is survived by his son, Reed (Liz) of Greenview, Ill.; son, Chad; daughter, Courtney (Jeff) Manger and grandson, Vance Manger of Palm Springs, Calif; sister, Sue Soldwedel Wollin of Oregon; and his cat, Simon. He leaves nephews, Arthur (Jennifer) Wirtz III of Glenview, Ill., and James Wirtz of Chicago; nieces, Laurie Wirtz (Steve) Jenkins of Glenview, Ill., Lynsey Wollin (Shawn) Casey of Evanston, Ill., and Kelsey Wollin (Todd) Dunn of Oregon; and cousins, including Larry Klepfer of Ecuador. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Sunny Soldwedel Wirtz. David's children hosted a bonfire in his honor at the family farm and wish to thank all who enriched his life with friendship. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson
(608)873-4590
Events
Memorial Gathering
Sat Aug 13, 2016 @ 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Stoughton • 1358 Hwy 51, P.O. Box 96, Stoughton, WI 53589
Photos
No photos of David have been shared yet.
Memories
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Trevor Dybevik
Other •
I grew up in Dave's old house on Lake Kegonsa Rd. Dave would tell us all about what the property once was to his family. Dave was always willing to find work for the kids around the "neighborhood" on Stoughton Farms. I think just about all of us picked rocks! But, my love for showing Angus cattle really brought Dave and I together for a time during my youth. Before I was even old enough to drive, Dave would haul myself and a few head off to Lancaster or the World Beef Expo, get me the key to the hotel or checked into the dorms and head back to Stoughton. He'd tell me to keep them looking good and he'd be back for the sale! I loved the trust Dave had in me to represent him at such a young age and I was honored. I learned a lot from you Dave. It takes a village to raise a child and I am grateful you were in mine Sir. I haven't done a very good job of keeping in touch with you, but it will be easier now. Thanks for being a part of my life.
HM
Holly Musselman
Other •
I am heartbroken to learn of the death of our dear friend, Dave. We met him in 1986 when we moved into our house on Dunne St. in Morton. He was more than our next door neighbor - he became a very very dear friend. So many happy memories...cocktails on our patio every evening at 5:30 in the summer, helping us with our kitchen remodel back in the 90's, helping to build our shed in the
backyard. He even painted our basement stairway & fixed our basement steps handrail that had gotten loose. Ping pong games - fast & furious with my husband, Ken, in the winter months. Putting up the giant golf net in Dave's driveway while there was still snow on the ground so the two of them could practice hitting golf balls...and not plastic balls ...oh no! REAL golf balls that sometimes flew over the net & onto our roof! We had an above ground pool & Dave like to sneak up on our kids - Eric, and twins Jay & Jeff - when they were in the pool and splash them when they weren't expecting it. Then of course it would be all out water "wars" with the kids chasing Dave with their super soakers. One winter the kids were sad because we had not had any snow here in Morton and Wisconsin had a lot - so Dave filled the back of his pickup truck with snow from the farm & dumped a pile in our front yard for the kids. So many happy and wonderful memories. He called me last fall after my team (Northern Illinois Huskies) played Ohio State to tell me he had watched the game and thought we had played well and he even thought we might have beat them. He told me he was cheering for NIU because after all everyone hates Ohio State, right?
Our deepest sympathy to Dave's family - Reed, Courtney, Sue and all of you. Dave was a good friend and was very dear to us. We are so sad today to have lost him.
I hope there are Angus cows and good scotch in heaven for you, my friend. You will be missed.
The Musselman Family - Holly, Ken, Eric, Jay & Jeff
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brice stanfield
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Dave was a great man. My best friend was his step son for our formative years in Morton. Dave was fun and good hearted. He would play ping pong with us, take us to places in his brown Jeep truck, even took up playing tennis for a while. We made many trips to the farm in Wisconsin, and he would leave the guest house to us even as kids. We would make our way to the main house where he and his mom would be sitting near a food warmer in the kitchen with food ready for us. I remember going on ski trips with him to Steamboat and Vail Colorado. He tried out some crazy contraption with rubber "bungees" to try and save his knees. While in Army basic training , Dave wrote letters I still have today. Even after he moved back to the farm, after years in Morton, we were always welcome back. I'm saddened I have not seen him in years and to hear of his passing. Prayers go out to his family. Brice Stanfield
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Terry and Dawn George
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We are so very sorry to hear of Dave's passing. He will be missed. We have good memories of the livestock show in Denver and sharing good times and friendships eating shrimp at the Broker after shows. Terry and Dawn George
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John[Jack] Kluever
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We are sorry to hear of David passing. I have a lot of good memories of are childhood in Pekin Il. David was a great man. Love, Jack/Judy Kluever
MM
Mike McCloskey
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My family is sorry to hear that Dave passed away. About 2 years after moving into our farm house on Lake Kegonsa Rd in 1976, Dave sold us some adjacent acreage that he owned with Stoughton Farms. He was very accommodating and fair during the process. He suggested we could get a horse or two if we wanted, so we did. Without his help, we would still have just a small parcel of land. We would see Dave driving around Rutland in his pickup truck and he would always wave to us. He was a good man. Best to Sue and all the family.