Herman Julius "Bud" Albrecht Jr.

Herman J. “Bud” Albrecht, Jr., age 95, passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022, under the care of Wells Nature View CBRF and Compassus Hospice. A celebration of life for Bud will be held at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, 1010 East Veterans Parkway, in Marshfield, on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Virgil Voight officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday.

 Bud, as he preferred to be called, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 20, 1926, to Herman J. and Emeline (Reinke) Albrecht. He, along with his family moved to Arpin, Wisconsin in 1937, where he helped his family on the farm.

He married Dolores Leberg on September 17, 1951, in Dubuque, Iowa and they enjoyed 70 years together that was filled with many experiences. They were completely devoted to each other and true soul mates. For the past seven months they resided together at Wells Nature View.

Through the years, Bud was employed as a mail carrier, a laborer at Hub City, and then at Consolidated Papers, retiring from there. After retirement, he then worked at Arpin Lumber & Supply, and the Arpin Dairy. He also worked tirelessly on projects around his home and yard. He was a resident of Arpin his entire life and he took great pride in maintaining his yard.

Anyone who met Bud knew of his adventurous and daredevil life. As a teenager he acquired his first of several Harley-Davidson motorcycles and participated in hill climbing and racing events. In the early years he had a daily newspaper route that he used his Harley to deliver the papers, even in the Winter. The Harley had a sidecar which helped stability on the snow- and ice-covered roads. He once did an exhibition at the fair where he crashed his motorcycle through burning boards.

He became interested in flying, and over a period of years became the owner of three different airplanes: a Meyer, a Stearman, and a Ryan. Flying was his passion, and he was expert in aerobatics and Dolly would be with him many times when he flew. There are many stories about his stunt flying abilities, one of which was when he flew his plane beneath the swinging bridge in North Wood County Park, which at that time had more clearance for lack of trees and foliage. The stories of his exploits would fill a book.

After his flying years he pursued his love of music and became excellent at playing his Hammond organ, which he played up until a few years before his health would no longer allow him to do so. Many were entertained with his music, and he played at parties and once played at a political function honoring Hubert and Muriel Humphrey.

There are countless individuals that were recipients of Bud’s “counterfeit quarters.”  He took great pleasure in distributing them to friends and even first-time acquaintances. 

Bud was a member of the Marshfield Motorcycle Club, American Motorcycle Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, and the National Rifle Association.

He will be sorely missed by his survivors which include his wife, Dolly, daughter, Kathryn LaBarge Fromholtz, granddaughter, Elizabeth (Andy) Guldan, grandson, Christopher (Amanda Shaw) LaBarge, and great-grandchildren, Trevor, Ashlyn, and Brooklyn Guldan. He is also survived by one sister, Marion DeSloover, of Arpin, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Harriet Bauer.

The family would like to express their thanks to the tireless staff at Wells Nature View and Compassus Hospice. Their kindness, care, and patience are appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arpin Volunteer Fire Department.

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