Loyal Babcock Wells

Of Mequon, Wisconsin, passed away December 17, 2005, at 89 years of age, surrounded by his loving children. He was born February 11, 1916, in Dodge Center, Minnesota. On May 21, 1941, he married Ruth Meyers, who preceded him in death after 49 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Eve Oliver Wells, Palm Harbor, Florida; his children Marilyn William Sprague, Devon PA, Jean Gregory “Sandy” Custer, Mequon, Susan Daniel Minahan, Mequon, Robert Cecelia Wells, Mequon, and John Wells, Mequon; grandchildren W. Douglas Jill Sprague, Anne Christopher Hart, Robert Sprague, Susan Bernard Kuhn, Lynn Anthony Jewett, Elizabeth Custer, Peter Custer, D. John Minahan, Katherine John McGregor, Anne Minahan, Douglas Minahan, Andrea Wells, John Wells, Robert Wells, Daniel Wells; and great-grandchildren Matthew and Will Sprague, and Madeline and John McGregor. His grandson Stephen Wells preceded him in death. He is also survived by his beloved twin sister, Lucille Louis Sunby, Milton WI. His sister Roberta Richard Wells preceded him in death. A 1937 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he remained a devoted Badger fan for the rest of his life. Involved in the fur industry in the days when Wisconsin and Ozaukee County played an important national role in that industry, he was Treasurer of Federal Foods, Mequon, for some years before co-founding Ross-Wells, Mequon, with his lifelong friend and business partner, W.J. Bill Ross. In 1992 he formed a citrus production company near Haines City, Florida, specializing in growing pomelos. Before moving to Mequon in 1992, he was a 50-year resident of Cedarburg, where he was involved in many civic activities. He was a Director of Colonial State Bank presently M&I, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the former Milton College. His major volunteer interest was the Thiensville Mequon Rotary Club where he was a member for over 47 years. He served as President and was a recipient of the club’s honorary Paul Harris award. He was instrumental in founding Rotary Park, Mequon, and donated the Pukaite Woods with the Loyal Wells Nature Walk at that site. In addition to his devotion to family and community, he loved trees, having planted over 1, 000 trees each year for the last thirty years. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 23, 3:30 P.M. at Crossroads Presbyterian Church corner of Highland and Green Bay Road. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Thiensville Mequon Rotary Park Foundation, P.O. Box 104, Thiensville WI 53092. The Wells family would like to extend their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the caring staff of the ER and the ICU at Columbia St. Mary’s, Ozaukee, to Dr. David Kress, and Dr. Bruce Rowe. Thank you to family friends for their presence, help and constant support. He will be dearly missed. Service: 3:30 PM at Crossroads Presbyterian Church 6031 W. Chapel Hill Rd. 129 N Mequon, WI 53092 on December 23, 2005 (map/driving directions)