WAUNAKEE / CORNELL - Walter Paul Bublitz, 84, passed away on Thursday, March 10th at BrightStar Senior Living in Madison,WI with family by his side.

He was born May 28, 1931 to Walter & Adeline Bublitz in Milltown, WI. He grew up in St. Paul, MN and graduated from Harding High School in 1949. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He attended the School of Agriculture at the University of MN, earned his degree in elementary education from the University of WI River Falls, and got his teaching license at the Normal School in St. Croix Falls, WI.

He married Kazuko Mary Sera on October 8, 1952, and following several moves, they settled in Cornell, WI where he taught in the middle school grades until his retirement in 1986. During his years of teaching in Cornell, he also worked as a park ranger at Brunet Island State Park during the summer months. After retiring from teaching, he owned and operated McCann Paddles with his son Dan. He and his wife, Mary, enjoyed traveling to art & craft shows to exhibit and sell the paddles along with various art work done by Mary. In addition to that, he completed schooling for lay ministry and served in that capacity at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cornell. Walt & Mary enjoyed volunteering at the Ice Age Trail Nature Center and the Cornell Food Pantry.

In 2003, Walt & Mary moved to Albuquerque, NM where they lived for three years before returning to Wisconsin. They settled first in DeForest, and then moved to Waunakee, residing at Waunakee Manor. Walt continued to live there after Mary’s passing in 2011, until his move to BrightStar Senior Living in Madison in August 2015.

He is survived by his children: Walt (Karen) Bublitz of Poynette WI, Pam (Kim) Cordahl of Fergus Falls MN, Dan (Gayle) Bublitz of Phelps WI, Amy Bublitz (Steve Kohl) of Madison WI; his brother, Richard (Rosemary) Bublitz of Woodland Hills CA, & his sister Margie Peterson of White Bear Lake MN; his grandchildren: Mary (Paul) Elsing, Ashley (Ben) Squier, Donny Harrop, Alex Cordahl, Dallas (Madeleine) Cordahl, Chad (Vicky) Bublitz, and Charlie (Angela) Bublitz; 6 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his daughter Pauline Harrop, and his son-in-law Don Harrop.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 6924 Lake Road, DeForest. A visitation will be held from 10:00AM until time of service on Sunday at the funeral home. A private interment will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

A special thank you to the staff of Waunakee Manor, BrightStar Senior Living, and Agrace Hospice Services for the expert and loving care they provided.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to a food pantry of the donor’s choice. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Walter Bublitz

May 28, 1931 - March 10, 2016

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