Walter A. DeVoe, 78, of Wilton passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, surrounded by his family.
He was born March 23, 1936, to Minert and Pauline (Dutton) DeVoe in Rockford, Ill. Walter grew up in the Tomah area and was a member of the Tomah High School graduating class of 1954. Walter proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Reserve, Air Force and Navy Reserve.
On April 2, 1997, Walt was united in marriage to Kathy Moore by Rev. Wes Schirmer in Onalaska. Walt worked for the National Weather Service for 32 years. During those years, he found ways to pursue multiple opportunities. He graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, in 1968, and then attended Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating in 1971 with a Master of Divinity degree. During his seminary years, he served as a student pastor of First Lutheran Church in McGregor, Iowa. He was ordained into the ALC at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tomah in 1971.
Walt continued to pursue his secular career in meteorology but for several years simultaneously served as assistant to the president of Wartburg Seminary. Walt supervised the NWS office at St. Cloud, Minn. Following his retirement from the NWS in 1992, he established contract aviation weather offices at a number of Midwestern locations as well as serving as a professor of meteorology at St. Cloud State University. In 1997, Walt and his wife, Kathy, moved to Voyager Village in northwestern Wisconsin. From there, he served for two years as a pastor in Birchwood and Exeland, Wis.
In 2005, Walt and Kathy relocated to the Wilton area. He was very interested in all forms of aviation and held a private pilot’s license, commercial licenses for hot air balloons and a master skydiver license. Walt enjoyed the different aspects of life; in his leisure time, he enjoyed working with wood, making furniture; his fishing trips to Canada; playing board games; gardening; cooking; and golfing. Walt had a gentle, calming presence, and writing poetry was one of his many talents.
He was a devoted and faithful member of Faith Congregational Church, serving as an interim pastor twice, and he served as a visiting pastor to the Morrow Memorial Home in Sparta. He was a member of the Tomah Area Concert Association and F & AM and a past member of the Tomah Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy of Wilton; three sons, Paul (Pam) of Fort Collins, Colo., Wayne (Michelle) of Elk River, Minn., and Robert (Linda) of Shoreview, Minn.; two stepdaughters, Dawn (Paul) Rusch of Malaysia and Diane (Robert) Callaway of Westby; seven grandchildren, Diana (Ben) Bailey, Steve DeVoe, Kyle (Laura) DeVoe, Jacob DeVoe, Amy DeVoe, Jacey Rusch and Leo Rusch; four great-grandchildren, Kailey, Alivia, Leah and Cassendra; three brothers, James (Luella) DeVoe, Ray (Sharon) Devoe and Donald (Louise) DeVoe, all of Tomah; a sister, Elaine (James) Kanable of Mound City, S.D.; two sisters-in-law, Beverly (James) Carroll of Bloomington, Minn., and Muriel Denman of Ashland, Wis.; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Margie.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Faith Congregation Church in Wilton. Pastor Ben Janzen will officiate. Military honors will be performed by the Hanson-Stark-Leith-Paeth Wilton American Legion Post 508. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church from 4–7 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Thursday. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
