Wesley B. Watrud

Wesley (Wes) Bruce Watrud, age 82 of rural Blanchardville died on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at his home after a brief hospital stay.  He was born on April 18, 1941 in Monroe to William and Hazel (Larson) Watrud.  He grew up in the Barneveld area and graduated from Barneveld High School in 1958.  He worked at Prairie Ridge Cheese factory until going into farming.  He loved farm life and living in the country.  He sold the dairy herd and retired in 2010 at the age of 69.

Wes met Sue, the love of his life, shortly after high school and within months they became inseparable.  Together they happily raised four children.  Family was everything to him and he was most happy when with them.  He was very proud of his kids and grandkids and loved to attend their sporting events.   He also enjoyed watching his grandkids show his dairy heifers at the Green County Fair every July.

Wes was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Blanchardville.  He was a member of the Jaycees of Blanchardville and was on several bowling leagues.   

Wes loved fishing with his son, deer hunting season at the hunting shack, canoeing and gardening and he always had room in his heart for a dog.  He always made sure his barn was decked with morning glories and sunflowers and he loved his Sunday drives with Sue.  His long time dream came true when his son and daughter in law bought the farm and built a house nearby.  He had a wonderful group of friends and extended family members and he loved to have them visit so they could have long talks over a cold beer.  He had a few special friends that called him a “second dad” and he loved and cared for them very much.

Wes is survived by his wife of 63 years, Susan (Gort) Watrud; four children, Tammy (Chris) Narveson of New Glarus,  Lori (Rick) Gordon of Mount Horeb, Wesley (Marci) Watrud of Blanchardville, Stephanie Benson (finance Michael)of Elk River, Minnesota; 10 beautiful granddaughters and one special grandson;  Brittany (Kevin) Campbell, Lauren and Vanessa Narveson, Abbey (Matthew) Blanchard, Tyler Gordon (fiancé Mackenzie), Hailey Gordon, Maci Watrud (fiancé Kyle), Sierra and Brooke Watrud, Nicole (Tyler) Berge, Valery Benson, and  5 great grandchildren; Ava, Mason and Emma Campbell and Noa and Parker Blanchard.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Watrud; his mother, Hazel (Larson) Watrud; two brothers, Harland Swenson and Merton Watrud and a sister in law, Louise Watrud

A private memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2 at the family farm, per Wes’s request.  Saether Funeral Service of Blanchardville is assisting the family.  Online condolences may be expressed to the family at saetherfuneralservice.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wesley B. Watrud, please visit our floral store.