Obituary: Hulda Ann (Wastlick) Wells

Hulda Ann (Wastlick) Wells, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at Reedsburg Area Medical Center. Hulda was born on December 3, 1930 to John and Lucile (Reuter) Wastlick of Cazenovia, WI. Hulda grew up on the family farm with her younger brother John. Besides animals, they also produced sugar cane for molasses and tapped maple trees for syrup. The farm remains in the family today.
Hulda met Eugene (Gene) Wells while attending grade school. They became high school sweethearts and graduated in 1948 from Cazenovia High School. Hulda went on to attend Richland Center Normal School for two years. She later earned her degree in elementary education from UW-Platteville.
Gene and Hulda married on June 30, 1951. Their 63 years of marriage were blessed with two children, Kim and Randy. The Wells family loved spending time with John and Virginia Wastlick, and their children, Mike, Mark, and Christine. As a couple, Gene and Hulda regularly went camping with their friends, Don and Esther Ihde, Joe and Donna Davis, and Lawrence and Avis Fry, to Arizona during the winter, and Wisconsin in the summer. Locally, they enjoyed seeing friends at the Cazenovia bank, getting cheese curd from Carr Valley, and eating at Trail Break. Hulda never missed an opportunity to dance, especially if Gene was drumming in his band, or if it was a polka with the grandchildren.
Hulda began her first teaching job in a one-room schoolhouse where she taught grades 1-8. She was later hired by the Reedsburg School District to teach 5th grade at LaValle for about 20 years and finally at Rock Springs. She especially loved teaching about the states and capitals. She taught for a total of 39 years. After retiring from teaching, she worked for Lands’ End in Reedsburg for many years.
Hulda enjoyed fishing her entire life, which she taught her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family and hosting the traditions of frosting cookies on Cookie Day, having oyster stew on Christmas Eve, and the egg hunt on Easter. She always attended her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s show choir competitions, sporting events, dance recitals, or concerts. She never missed her standing Saturday morning appointment with Patty at the beauty parlor.
Hulda was preceded in death by her parents, Lucile and John Wastlick; in-laws, James and Freda Wells; husband, Gene Wells; and son, Randy Wells.
She is survived by her brother, John (Virginia) Wastlick; her children, Kim (Tom) Harrison, and Barb (Randy) Wells; five grandchildren: Julie (Chris) Johnson, Benjamin (Bonnie) Harrison, Allison (Matthew) Rafn, Kyle (Rachel) Wells, Stephanie (Jacob Droeszler) Wells; six great grandchildren: Addison, Aubrey, Jacob, Emily, Landon, and Liam; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
We celebrated Hulda’s life on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:00pm, at the Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg with Chaplain Daniel Farber officiating. Visitation was also on Saturday at the funeral home from 10:30 am until the time of service. Burial followed services at Concord Cemetery, Cazenovia. A luncheon followed at the United Methodist Church in Reedsburg.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Reedsburg Senior Life Center and the Reedsburg Area Medical Center for all they’ve done.