Obituary of Calvin Tuxhorn

Calvin E. Tuxhorn, 92, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI and Naples, FL, passed away on July 10, 2018 at his home in Wisconsin Rapids.  He was under the care of his son Gene and daughter-in-law Joyce as well as Aspirus Home Hospice.

Calvin was born in Imperial, Nebraska on August 12, 1925 to Fred Sr. and Margaret (Stuthiet) Tuxhorn.  His family moved to central Wisconsin in 1931, living west of Pittsville, the Town of Rome, and later in Wisconsin Rapids.  Prior to his senior year of high school, he enlisted in the Naval Air Corp in July of 1943 and received his stateside training in Memphis, TN, Jacksonville, FL and Bremerton, WA.  He shipped out into the Pacific and was stationed at Pearl Harbor and then onto Guam.  He and many others were preparing for the final battle when the war ended in 1945.  He returned to the states and received an Honorable Discharge on January 24, 1946 holding the rank of Aviation Ordinanceman 3rd Class Petty Officer.  Following his discharge he received his GED and was awarded his high school diploma at a special ceremony on September 6, 2014.

He married Dorothy Helke on October 25, 1947 and started with the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department on November 1, 1947.  He rose through the ranks and was named an Assistant Chief of Platoon #3 in 1967.  He enjoyed his work and public service.  After 31 years of service, following a work related injury, he retired on a disability in March of 1978.

He started Cal’s Window Washing Service in the early 1950s and over the years the business grew rapidly.  He employed other firefighters and relatives to assist him with the expanding list of clients.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and travel.  He made countless trips to Canada, Leach Lake, MN, Devils Lake, ND and Lake Erie for walleyes.  Later in life he would fish the local cranberry marshes and other lakes for bluegills.  He took his motorhome to Alaska fishing for salmon and halibut out of Homer, AK.  While in Florida, he fished the back waters of the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico for mangrove snapper, grouper and other large fish.  He spent over 30 winters at his home in Naples, FL.

He was an excellent wing shot and spent many early mornings hunting ducks and geese on the lakes and marshes of central Wisconsin, as well as many spots on the Mississippi River and Devils Lake, ND.

He enjoyed polka dances and would attend them as often as he could.  He traveled the mid-west and around Florida in the winter to attend these dances.  In his later years he was a very big fan of church picnics and fish fries.  He was always busy in retirement and never complained that there was nothing to do.

Surviving Calvin are his son, Gene (Joyce) Tuxhorn; sister-in-law Betty Tuxhorn; step granddaughters: Jaime (Brooks) Berg and family, Dr. Keri (Jason) Mason-Punyahotra and family; nephew James (Lois) Tuxhorn; and special friend Don Schillinger.  He was also survived by his estranged 2nd wife Rita (Domask) Tuxhorn and other nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy; parents Fred Sr. and Margaret; brothers: Arthur, Fred Jr., Leonard and Delbert; and sisters: Elizabeth Klingforth and Ida Eggen.  He was laid to rest at St. John Lutheran Parish Cemetery in the Town of Grant, Portage County, WI.

Herman-Taylor Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids, was honored to serve the family.