Wayne's Memorial Mass Video Link

Wayne's Military Honors Video Link

Wayne George Wilfuer, age 87 of New London, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.  He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, born on April 4, 1938, the son of the late George and Mildred (Behnke) Wilfuer.  He attended a one room school house in his younger years and graduated from Clintonville High School with the class of 1956.  In his junior year of high school, he joined the 127th Inf. Red Arrow Division of the US Army National Guard.  Wayne met his wife, Muriel Lorge in high school and they married on September 5, 1959.  In 1961, during the "Berlin Crisis" in Germany, his guard unit was activated and he spent one year at Fort Lewis, WA, achieving the rank of staff sergeant.  He served a total of nine years in the guard.  After returning home, Wayne was employed by Wisconsin Gas Company.  He was a welder and lead man on his construction crew.  At the same time, living in New London, he was on the New London Fire Department and served 43 years, the last 36 years as its chief until his retirement at age 70.  While chief, Wayne pushed for and achieved the renovation of the old Buffalo Fire Truck, funded by a yearly N. L. Fireman's Dance.  Wayne was responsible for getting training for his men from Fox Valley Technical College, one of the first departments in North East Wisconsin to do this.  He also achieved getting retirement funds for volunteer fireman during his tenure.  Wayne served as supervisor for District 26 on the Waupaca County Board for six years.

Wayne taught his sons to hunt, taking them trap shooting, to know how to handle guns.  He taught all his children how to fish, snowmobile and golf.  Wayne very much enjoyed spending time with his son's friends, and spending time at the family's hunting cabin during deer season with the entire family, and having many "popcorn" parties there also.  Wayne and Muriel spent many happy hours together, golfing, snowmobiling, traveling in Canada, out west and to Cooperstown, NY twice to watch grandsons play baseball at Cooperstown Dreams Park with 11 and 12 year old teams from all over the US.  They spent a weekend on Nantucket Island in the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast. At their home in the woods, they enjoyed many a quiet summer evening on the porch, enjoying the deer, turkeys, squirrels, "chippies", birdsong and nature in general.

Wayne and Muriel had five children, Mark (Carol) Wilfuer, Jill (Jeff) Ruesch, Mick (Linda) Wilfuer, Janet (Peter) Herzfeldt and Dan (Sue) Wilfuer; grandchildren,  Cale (Monica) Wilfuer, Malary (Tim) Hill, Mitchell (Kaytie) Ruesch, Bailey Wilfuer (Nick Reiland), Cody (MaKayla) Wilfuer, John (Heidi) Herzfeldt, Michael Herzfeldt, Matt (Katie) Wilfuer and Emily (Dustin) Millard; great-grandchildren, Henry, Asher, Whit, Ely, Paislee, Porter, Cooper, Evelyn, Cora, Waylon, Jack, Tommy, Nora, June and Lucy.

He is further survived by brothers-in-law, Richard (Maxine) Lorge and Jim (Sharon) Lorge; nieces, Brenda (Al) Biese, Wendy (Eric) Southard, Jamie (Kelby) Kroenig and Jodi (Andy) Carrico and many other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his brothers, Lowell and Roger; sister-in-law, Beverly and his in-laws, Charles and Delilah Lorge.

The Memorial Service for Wayne will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London with Fr. David Hoffman officiating.  The visitation will take place from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Bear Creek.