Wilfred Walz

Wilfred Walz age 96 of New Hampton, IA died Thursday, December 5, 2024, at New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. James Goerend Celebrating the Mass. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton with Wilfred’s grandchildren serving as pallbearers.

Friends may greet the family from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the church prior to the Mass.

Wilfred August Walz was born to William and Caroline (Demmer) Walz on July 27, 1928, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Wilfred grew up in a world far different from the one we know today. Yet, throughout the decades, his loving, gentle, and passionate spirit remained a constant beacon of light to those around him.

Wilfred’s formative years were spent in Monticello, Iowa, where he received his education and eventually developed a lifelong love for agriculture. His youth was punctuated by joyful visits with family friends, the Nehls, in Alta Vista, Iowa. It was there he met the love of his life, Joanna Nehl. Their courtship blossomed into a beautiful marriage on June 7, 1950, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista. Together, they embarked on a journey of love and partnership, first as farmers near Hawkeye and later in the Lawler area, where Wilfred pursued his passion for dairy farming. This union was blessed with the birth of six wonderful children.

In 1967, the family moved to an acreage east of New Hampton, where Wilfred and Joanna enjoyed the simpler pleasures of their hobby farm. Throughout his career, Wilfred worked for various farm-related businesses. Still, it was his role as a custodian at the New Hampton High School, from 1973 until his retirement in 1990, that many will fondly remember him for. 

Wilfred’s life was marked by active involvement in his community and his faith. As a child, he was engaged in 4-H which he really enjoyed. He grew to be a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus and Holy Family Parish. He was a man who not only believed in the values of hard work and service but also lived them every day.

His interests were as rich and varied as the life he led. Wilfred was an avid fisherman, making annual trips to Minnesota with his family for 34 years—a tradition his children hold dear to their hearts. The family vacations to the Black Hills and Colorado were filled with adventure and laughter, creating memories that would last a lifetime. At home, Wilfred could often be found in his garden, woodworking, or playing a competitive game of euchre or 500. Traveling the Midwest, camping in their 5th wheel, and spending precious time with his grandchildren were among his favorite pastimes. In retirement, he discovered a talent for golf, a pastime he quickly excelled at and thoroughly enjoyed. 

Wilfred August Walz will be remembered as a man who embodied the virtues of love, gentleness, and passion in every aspect of his life. His presence enriched the lives of those around him, and his memory will continue to inspire and comfort his family and friends for generations to come.

Wilfred’s legacy lives on through his six children: Susan (John) Kriener of Omaha, NE, Jane Einck of New Hampton, Mary Lou (Ron) Balk of Denver, IA, David (Molly Abraham) Walz of Iowa City, Roger (Ericka) Walz of Maple Grove, MN, and Steven (Stacia) Walz of Denver, CO; his nineteen grandchildren; and twenty-three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Joan Walz of Oelwein. 

Wilfred was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Joanna, who passed away in September 2023; his brothers Leo, Albert at childbirth, and Cletus; son-in-law, Tim Einck; daughter-in-law, Judy Walz.