John Erwin "Slicker" Wurzer, of Elton, died Monday, April 1, 2013 at the Appleton Health Care Center after a long and productive life. He was 93 years old. He was born on May 28, 1919 in Elton, a son of John and Emma (Juetten) Wurzer. He married the love of his life, Frances Grimes on October 1, 1955 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Langlade. She survives.

At the age of 17 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp to help support his family. He returned home to help on the family farm.

Mr. Wurzer served in the United States Army from July 11, 1941 until September 24, 1945 in the European Theater during World War II. He was a recipient of a bronze star and purple heart.

In addition to working on the family farm he worked in logging camps during the winter. He worked at Camp 17, Yawkey-Bissell and in Michigan logging camps.

In 1954 he started his own dairy farm in Elton. He also drove school bus for 6 years for White Lake and Elton Schools. He was a "jack of all trades", logged, cut his own fire wood and made maple syrup for many years.

Mr. Wurzer was a member of St. James & Stanislaus Parish, White Lake and the Holy Name Society, the Anderson-Sather American Legion Post 524, White Lake and the Paul Marmes Disabled American Veterans Chapter 23, Antigo. He also served on the Evergreen town board.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and reading. He treasured time spent with family and loved to hear "Hey grandpa tell me a story".

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Frances of Appleton; four children, Michael Wurzer of Neenah, Diane (Tim) Conrad of Appleton, Linda (David) Racine of Green Bay and Patrick (Susan) Wurzer of Mosinee; eight grandchildren, Sarah Habeck, Stephen Wurzer, Matthew and Paul Conrad, Heather and Brent Racine, Kelly and Emily Wurzer; one great-grandson, Gavin Wurzer; two sisters, Mary Maurer of Cleveland, Tenn. and Theresa (Robert) Schmidt of Melbourne, Fla.; a brother, Edward (Virginia) Wurzer of Appleton; two sisters-in-law, Mary "Dolly" (Warren) Thomas of Lakewood and Carol Wurzer of Elton.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Henry, Cyril and Eugene and two sisters, Marjorie Bricco and Vera Eschenbauch.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church with Rev. Jeremiah Worman officiating. Burial will take place in St. Joseph Cemetery, Elton with White Lake veterans conducting military rites. Visitation will be Friday, April 19, 2013 at the Bradley Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. with a parish wake service at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass.

Services