Adolph J. Reckelberg

Adolph Julius Reckelberg lived to 89 years old. He lived his life to the fullest. He died on March 19, 2024, at Bellin Hospital. He was born on February 20, 1935, to the late Julius and Helen (Krueger) Reckelberg at the homestead in Kewaunee, WI. He lived at home with his parents and grandparents, Julius Sr. and Ida (Salszeider) Reckelberg, and was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Montpelier. He attended Pine Bluff one room school for grades 1, 2, and 3, two miles from home. Then St. Paul German Lutheran School, Montpelier. He graduated in 1953 from Old Kewaunee High School. He always said, "My dad died when I was 17. I don't know how they graduated me as I missed many days of school that year. I did all the field and farm work with the help of my sisters."

Adolph married Mary K. Dorner on September 2, 1967, at St. Mary's church, Luxemburg, WI. They celebrated 56 years of marriage this past year on the sesquicentennial farm. Their finest joy was raising 3 children on the farm and then watching their nine grandchildren grow. He enjoyed watching the crops sprout, and a highlight was traveling the USA to about 26 National Parks. He was a Jack of all Trades. A farmer, plumber, mechanic, carpenter, and he tried most everything, maple syrup, bee keeping, building ponds and planting trees.

Adolph was a member of Ag Heritage where he kept the wood stoves fired for the cooks at Ag Heritage Days in September. He was a member of Kewaunee High School Future Farmers Chapter and won many soil conservation awards. He dug 2 wildlife ponds, and was a 4-H project leader in dairy, beef, and forestry.

Adolph was a member at St. Paul's Church, Montpelier. In his 20's and 30's, he, with other neighbors hand dug graves with picks and shovels for deceased neighbors. One grave was dug at 20 degrees below zero. Rubber tires were piled on the grave sites and set on fire to thaw the ground out. He also was instrumental in getting the 1984 addition built on the west side of the present St. Paul Church. When Adolph had his left leg (below the knee) amputated from poor circulation, his daughter Heidi, hooked him up with the St. Paul Quilting group, where he tied about 75 quilts each winter for the last 10 years.

He will be remembered by his wife, Mary K. Reckelberg; their children and grandchildren, Heidi (Rod) Heim, Kelsey (Cody) Rass and great-granddaughter Harper, Abigail, Sam Heim; Jed (Mary Jo) Jared, Madalyn, Jayden Reckelberg, Ellen (Jeff) Cleath, Katherine, Andrew, Norah Cleath; siblings, Bernice and Bruce Hanson, Maynard and Verni Ihlenfeldt, John Schuller; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Sally and Carl Riemer, Jerry Dorner and Linda Hyde, Allan and Lynn Dorner, Claire and Eddie Augustian, Julie and John Renier, Jane and Mark Hermans, Denise and Eddie Kinjerski, Lynn and Gary Holly, and Lori and Ken Williams.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Helen; his father- and mother-in-law, George Jr and Julia (Ledvina) Dorner; his siblings and their spouses, Fred and Audrey Reckelberg, Donald and Wilma Rehbein, Wayne and Alvira Petersen, Ludwig Reckelberg, Anita Schuller, Joyce and Myron Lemke, Judy and Leo Rabas.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 8:30-10:45 am at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Luxemburg. The funeral liturgy expressing our faith and hope in the resurrection will be prayed following the visitation at 11:00 am with Pastor Dan Olson officiating. Burial to follow at St. Paul Cemetery. Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolence messages may be shared at KinnardFCS.com.

Thank you so much to Pastor Dan for his many visits, the Bellin staff, Dr. Marcia, Dr. Wolfram, and Dr. Bobbi; Tim in prosthetics; Dan and Julie from All About Hearing. Our family is so grateful for the love and support from our extended family, nieces and nephews during his life. Good bye phantom pains. Adolph may you rest in peace. Memorials are appreciated in Adolph's name for St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church Montpelier, Kewaunee History Center, or LoveShriners.org.