Joseph D. Wankerl

Joseph D. Wankerl, 94, Plain, WI died peacefully May 25, 2025 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Sauk City. He was born on June 1, 1930 to John and Bertha (Beer) Wankerl. He graduated from St. Luke High School, Plain, in 1948 spending his freshman year at St. Nazianz Seminary near Manitowoc, WI. Joe married Lucille Lechner 73 years ago on April 29, 1952 and raised 6 children; Ken, Fr. Gary, LuAnn, Dan, Mary and Beth. 

Together they farmed and operated the JKL True Value Hardware Store in Plain. After Joe was done farming, he worked for Banker’s Life selling insurance. Joe also served on the St. Luke Parish Council as President for 2 terms and 19 years on the Sauk County Farm Bureau. In 1968 he was appointed to serve on the UW Baraboo Campus Commission. He was the Chairperson of the Board until retiring in 2004 and was awarded an Honorary Associate of Arts and Science Degree in 2007. He was a member of St. Luke Choir for over 50 years and played tuba for the Plain Hot Shots. As a first generation American he loved returning to Bavaria, Germany and keeping up family ties speaking the local German dialect he learned from his father. He enjoyed flying a plane in the local flying club and fishing in the pond he built on his second farm in 1963. In his final years he wove baskets and shared them with family and friends. 

He is survived by his wife, Lucille; brother, Anthony Wankerl, Sauk City and sister Delores Sunder, greater Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; his children, Ken (Renee), North Freedom, WI, Fr. Gary, Dodgeville, WI, LuAnn, Lake Forest, CA, Dan (Jo Husom), Plain, WI, Mary (Mark) Peck, Spring Green, WI, son-in-law, Meikel Nagel, Anthem, AZ; 6 grandchildren, Tonia Greenwood, Shaun Murray, Colin (Caitlin) and Taylor Friedman, Garrett (Jennette) and Nathan Peck; 6 great-grandchildren and sisters-in-law, Irene (Don) Ragtz and Doris (Bob) Hayes.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Beth; grandson, Tully; brothers, Ed, John, Louis; and his sisters, Mary Vogt, Florence Durst, Rose Ruhland and Dorothy Anderson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Luke Church, Plain with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will take place at the church on Monday, August 11 from 9:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Luke Church or St. Luke School.

Online condolences available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com  The Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.