Wylie K. Bledsoe

Wylie K. Bledsoe, age 81, of Dubuque, IA, completed his earthly journey on January 19, 2025, at MercyOne Hospital in Dubuque surrounded by his loving family.  To honor and celebrate Wylie’s life, a reception will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m., on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 3800 Arboretum Drive in Dubuque.  There will also be a memorial service held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Faith Lutheran Church, 55 Prairie Road, Fond du Lac, WI, with Pastor David Haugly officiating.  Family and friends are invited to join in the common areas for lunch and celebration of Wylie’s life from 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Burial will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Newburg, WI, at a later date.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Wylie’s family.

Wylie was born on October 14, 1943, in Mena, AK, a son to William Burl and Nellie Lee (McCravens) Bledsoe.  He was a kind and genuine man who loved his family and valued his friends.  He was united in marriage to his first wife, Phyllis J. Noster, and the two were blessed with many wonderful years together and four children of their own to love and nurture until she was sadly called home ahead of him in 1997.  Thankfully, Wylie found love again and was joined in marriage to Martha “Jean” Laubach.  They were truly grateful to spend the last 23 years together facing the world hand in hand and enjoying the benefits of their hard work and efforts while surrounding themselves with loved ones whenever possible.

Wylie possessed a strong work ethic and faithfully invested over 43 years with the Mercury Marine Company in Fond du Lac until he eventually retired in 2005.  He had begun in the earliest years of the company and made it to a supervisory position before he retired.  Wylie made sure to make the most of his free-time throughout his entire life and when he wasn’t focused on his family, a relaxing afternoon on the golf course was always a good option.  He also enjoyed deer hunting, boating, fishing, and watching Nascar and various sports.  Before retirement, truth be told, if the season was nice and the roads were ready, he and his best friend, Pete, would pack up their Goldwing’s and hit the open road for their next adventure.  It was no small accomplishment to have reached all 50 states over the years, but with smiles on their faces and unrelenting determination in their hearts, the task was earnestly completed and stored securely in their memory banks for the rest of their lives.

Wylie also found real joy volunteering with fellow members of the Dubuque Noon Lions Club and the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.  He was honored to sit on the Board of Directors at the Arboretum and served as Vice President over the years.  Wylie spent countless hours at the Arboretum tending to the facilities and assisting in more ways than we could even begin to name.  He made many friends along the way, shared his tinkering skills more often than not, and absolutely found his second wind when this chapter opened in his later years.  It’s difficult to imagine moving forward without Wylie’s fun and loving spirit walking among us.  The world has sadly lost one of the good one’s today along with an excellent role model of how a loving husband, father and grandfather should operate in an almost effortless manner.  Thank you, Wylie, for all of the love, life and wisdom you have so generously shared throughout your 81 years among us and may the Lord now hold you safe in His loving and grace-filled arms until we all meet again.     

Those left to cherish the memory of Wylie include,

his loving wife,

Martha “Jean” Bledsoe, Dubuque, IA;

his adored children,

Sam (Rosy) Bledsoe, Fond du Lac, WI,

Nelda (Stan) Bartlett, Glenbeulah, WI,

Joel Bledsoe, Sun Prairie, WI,

Cory Bledsoe, North Fond du Lac, WI,

and Andrew (Amy) Lubben, Fond du Lac, WI;

his grandchildren,

Joshua (Hope) Bledsoe, Stephanie Bledsoe, Samuel (Ivy) Bledsoe, Kassandra Nitschke, Phillip Bledsoe, Lucy Bledsoe, Lincoln Bledsoe, Kaitlyn Rost, Anna Bledsoe, Jenna (Damien) Bledsoe, and Maxwell Lubben;

his seven great-grandchildren;

his siblings,

Linda Miller, Wiggins, CO,

and Chuck (Linda) Bledsoe, West Bend, WI;

his sisters-in-law,

Mary (Wayne) Skartvedt, Redcliffe, IA,

and Sue (Mike) VanMaaren, Ames, IA;

along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Wylie was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Phyllis J. Bledsoe; his siblings, Ruby Lee Arendt, Jewel Flores, Brenda Barnekow, James Bledsoe, Willie Bledsoe, Billie Jean McGinnis; his sister-in-law, Sandra Anzia; and his brother-in-law, Bruce Laubach.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wylie’s name to the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, or the Dubuque Noon Lions Club.

Wylie’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Mercy Hospital and Ennoble Manor in Dubuque for all of their professional and compassionate care.

Online condolences may be shared with Wylie’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com