Stewart G. Huber, age 88 of Clintonville, passed away on Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Shawano Medical Center after a long bout with prostate cancer.
Stewart was born December 12, 1925, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and he spent his early years on his parent’s large grain and livestock family farm in Minnesota’s Red River Valley. The depression years of the 1930’s dust bowl, drought, disastrously low farm prices which prompted the Huber family to move their operation lock, stock, and barrel to a small 120 acre farm in Larrabee Township west of Clintonville, Waupaca County. It was from this new base that Stewart Huber received his high school and university education and grew into manhood. He and Lorraine Myhre were married on September 25, 1954 in Bagley, MN. The young couple set up a joint family farming operation on the Huber farm in earnest. It was fortunate that Lorraine became immediately involved because Stewart was called away from the farm early and often for certain civic duties, and she used her management skills in keeping the farm going and growing during his periodic absences until their sons were old enough to pitch in.
Huber spent a lot of time commuting between the farm and Madison. He first was appointed to the Wisconsin Soil and Water Conservation Board. Then at various times at USDA-FSA first as District Director in one administration – then as State Executive Director in another – and finally on the three-person State Committee in yet another administration. He was also instrumental – along with key others – in the development of a regional milk cooperative. He served at various times as the General Manager, CEO, Board member, and President of the Madison based coop originally known as Farmers Union Milk Marketing. Huber was also very involved in Ag, Conservation, and Industrial trade matters which often required his presence at our nation’s capital in Washington and some times on trade matters at certain other European capitals. He also served on the local bank, public school, and church etc. boards at various times along the way. He said he welcomes his opportunities at public service but said his favorite thing was working with members of his family in growing a great crop of corn or soybeans according to God’s design. Stewart was a member of the United Methodist Church, Clintonville.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lorraine; four sons: Raymond (Joan) Huber, George Huber, Benjamin (Dawn), Huber and Bill Huber all of Clintonville; four grandchildren: Ana, Zac, Alexander, and Caitlin Huber; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Fay and Carl Keller, Clintonville and Ben and Yvonne Myhre, Corning, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister in infancy.
Funeral services were held 11 A.M. Monday, December 30, 2013 at the United Methodist Church, Clintonville with the Rev. Roberta Thomson officiating. Spring interment will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville. Friends called at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville on Sunday from 12 noon until 3 P.M. and after 10 A.M. Monday at the church until the time of the service. An online guest book may be signed at www.eberhardtstevenson.com