Leroy Stewart, Jr. 1929-2026

Franklin Leroy Stewart Jr., 97, of Rib Lake, passed away on Friday, Oct. 23 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Leroy was born on July 12, 1929, to F.L. “Roy” and Marget (Moe) Stewart Sr. in Hinckley, Minn. As a young child, he moved to Wisconsin and lived in numerous towns before settling in Stetsonville, at the age of six years old. He attended Stetsonville State Graded School and graduated from Medford Senior High School in 1947. He enjoyed playing drums in the band and playing hockey.

After high school, Leroy went on a summer road trip out west to California with his best friends Ivan Bootzin and Robert Dettmering. Leroy had many stories about that trip that he loved to tell. They stayed with Leroy’s uncle for a few days in California. The trip took most of the summer and was remembered for a lifetime.

After their return, Leroy went to Minnesota where he owned and operated a grocery store in Brook Park, Minn., for two years. He then worked for a couple of years at a hardware store in Mora, Minn., before returning to Stetsonville where he took a job working under his father at the O & N Lumber Company.

In August 1950, Leroy married Geraldine Ann Clark in Brook Park, Minn. They resided in Stetsonville until 1959, when Leroy and his family moved to Rib Lake. He and his father owned and operated Stewart Lumber & Fuel selling building materials, hardware and coal for heating.

Leroy had many stories about the times he delivered coal and came home with his clothes all black. One time he got home and discovered he had lost his wallet. He figured that it had to of slipped out of his pocket while shoveling coal at a home he had delivered to. He drove back out to the house and went into the basement and shoveled the coal around until he found the wallet.

After they stopped selling coal, the name was changed to Stewart Lumber Co. Inc. A year after opening the lumber yard in Rib Lake, Leroy and his dad, along with partner Victor Zirngible, opened a lumber yard in Stetsonville. He later sold his share of the Stetsonville lumber yard, and in 1999, sold the lumber yard in Rib Lake. The Rib Lake facility was renamed C & D Lumber and Leroy continued working there until his retirement in 2016 at the age of 87.

After his divorce, Leroy married Monica “Jan” Rude in 1976 at the Lutheran Church in Colby, and they resided in Rib Lake, later moving to Medford. From 1987 to 1992, Leroy and Jan owned and operated Florena’s Supper Club in Medford. After Jan’s passing, Leroy moved back to Rib Lake where he resided until his passing.

Leroy always worked to make Rib Lake a better place. Among many other things, he helped to get the credit union started by giving them office space within the lumber company. He spent many evenings on the phone working out details to bring the cabinet factory to town and worked many years with the Rib Lake Lions Club that he helped start in the spring of 1966. When Rib Lake got its first ambulance, Leroy and Windy Bullis were the first two members that served on the ambulance crew.

Leroy is a past member of the Rib Lake Methodist Church, Rib Lake Commercial Club, Rib Lake Industrial Development Board, Rib Lake Fire Department, Thursday Night Hunters Club, and was the last surviving Charter Member of the Rib Lake Lions Club.

Leroy loved conversing with people and that was the one thing that he really missed after his retirement. He enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packers, NASCAR racing, hunting, looking at nature and the beauty around him, and above all, God and family were very important to him.

Leroy is survived by three sons, Robert and Thomas Stewart, of Rib Lake, and James Stewart, of Bloomer; son-in-law, Dennis Bryn of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; one stepdaughter, Dawn (Larry) Zentner, of Waunakee; and one stepson, Dale Rude, residing in Montana. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Lori (Alex) Blennert, of Wake Forest, N.C., Shandy Roberts, of Stevens Point, Kara (Luke) Degner, of Clyman, and Atisha (Bradley) Zentner-Thomas, of Beaver Dam. He is further survived by six great-grandchildren, Monique Zander, and Jennica Roberts, Arriana, Joshua and Joel Degner.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert who died at birth; wife, Monica “Jan” Stewart; a son, Richard Stewart; and his daughter, Penny Bryn.

The Celebration of Leroy’s Life will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at the Rib Lake Ice Age Pavillion, located at 847 Fayette Avenue, from 10 a.m. until the 1 p.m. Memorial Service, officiated by Pastor Donald Rhody.

Immediately following the memorial service, there will be a luncheon held in the Ice Age Pavillion.

Following the luncheon, there will be a procession to Lakeview Cemetery where a committal service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Rib Lake Lions Club.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715365-4343. Everyone is invited to leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com.

Paid Obituary 190607