Dean Walters

Dean W. Walters, age 83 of Harrisville, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at U.W. Hospital in Madison. He was born on August 21, 1930 in the Town of Packwaukee to Leonard and Glenola (Gradwohl) Walters.

Dean grew up in Packwaukee and graduated from Endeavor Academy. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Missouri. In 1953 he married Joan Borzick at St. John’s Catholic Church in Montello. He farmed and worked as a guard at Badger Ordinance. He worked installing sewers in Westfield and at Bong Air Base. He ran a paver, working on the State Highways. He went together with Ivan Johannes and opened the Northern Bar in Harrisville. In 1967 he went together with Ben & Florence Swader to purchase Stubb’s Bar in Montello and built and ran Ben-Deano’s Supper Club until 1973. In 1975 he built and ran the Pioneer Restaurant until 1981. He owned Walter’s Construction and built barns and pole buildings for over 25 years. He went together with Smokey Alf and his brother, Dale Walters to build Call of the Wild Campgrounds in Packwaukee. Through all his ventures he also worked as an Ironworker. He worked on many projects in the Madison area including the Coliseum.

He was a member of many clubs including the Harrisville Fire Department, Montello Lions and Westfield Lions. He was a charter member of the Harrisville Lions Club from 1969 to 2012 and had a big role in the construction of the Lions Building in Harrisville and was a lifetime member of the Harrisville Sportsmen’s Club. He was a member of the Harrisville Tractor Pullers and loved to announce the pulls for many years. He was a member along with Ed Mittelstedt, Al Aberham and Ed Barnard in a barbershop quartet called “Heck of a Notes” and traveled for competitions or would just start singing at get-togethers. He helped form the Westfield Wrestling Club along with the Harrisville Little League.

He loved to hunt and fish and spend time with his family and friends on the family farm. Many adventures and good times were spent with his hunting buddy Bernie Weber.

Many thanks to everyone he had the pleasure to have worked with in his many ventures throughout his life.

He will be missed by his wife of 60 years, Joan; five children, Randy (Cindy) Walters, Georgia, Carey (Jerry) Wentland, Harrisville, Bucky (Angie) Walters, Harrisville, Bob Walters, Harrisville and Susie (Joe) Cassini, Muskego; son in law, Randy Reetz; 12 grandchildren, Kiley, Darika, Sarah, Megan, Joe, Jamie, T.J., Alex, Brittany, Katie, Abby and Glenna; 15 great grandchildren, Emily, Evie, Heidi, Scott, Jeremiah, Madison, Mike, Lydia, Lexie, Jillie, Jackston, Jameson, Crosby, Claire and Will; one sister, Debbie (Don) Hall and one brother, Dale (Donna) Walters, both of Packwaukee; other relatives and many friends. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, two daughters, Jill Borgrud and Nancy Reetz and grandson, Mike Wentland.


A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2014 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Harrisville Sportsmen's Club Community Center.

Please take a moment to view the online guestbook. Send your condolences or share a memory of Dean with his family & friends.