Ervin Stanley Walker
Ervin Stanley Walker, 99, of Prairie du Chien, formerly of Seneca, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
He was born on May 22, 1917, to Raymond and Mildred Walker, of Homer. Ervin Walker married Gertrude Adams on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1939, in Dubuque, Iowa. Bill and Ardyth Adams were their witnesses. Bill was Gertrude’s brother, and Ardyth was Ervin’s sister. Bill and Ardyth were also married. In 1993, Gertrude passed away. Ervin married Laura Elliot in 1997.
Ervin joined the army during World War II on March of 1943 and served first in Georgia, then in San Francisco until end of the war. Ervin and Gertrude moved to Seneca in August of 1946.
Ervin’s primary lifetime interests included music, motorcycles, cars and airplanes, and honey bees.
Ervin was an accomplished mechanic since he was 10 years old. Ervin worked as a mechanic in Richland Center, Patch Grove and Bloomington. Ervin loved to fly his Cessna plane all over the Midwest, mostly flying to car auctions.
Ervin had a love for music. He played accordian, violin, fiddle, banjo, and piano in bands since the age of 10 at house/barn parties. He could play any song just by ear.
Ervin’s closest, lifelong friends were Bob Johnson, Ken Kisting and Dick Homuth. These friends were instrumental in helping Ervin start Walker’s Garage in 1946, beside his home. In 1962, Ervin built a new garage on the south edge of Seneca, selling around 150,000 used cars and being a Massey Ferguson dealer. He ran this business for fifty years, retiring at 78.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Walker, of Boscobel; children, Sharon Severson, of Eastman, Judith Mezera, of Dallas, Texas, Jan (Dick) Smethurst, of Marion, Iowa, Suzanne Walker, of Prairie du Chien; nine grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren; siblings, Arydeth Adams, of Mesa, Ariz., Orpha Dittberner of Sun Prairie, and Darrell (Mary) Walker, of Daleyville. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Minolla Meyers, of Hancock; and two brother-in-laws.
There will be a private, family military graveside service. A meal will follow at the Seneca Town Hall on Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. for friends and family. The Beeman-Patchak Funeral Home of Boscobel is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.beeman-patchakfuneralhome.com.
