Everett Boldt, long-time resident of Baldwin and founder of Boldt’s Plumbing & Heating, passed away quietly on Thursday, April 28, 2011. Everett was born on May 4, 1921, in Wessington, South Dakota, the first born of Frank & Olga Boldt.  In 1935, when Everett was a teenager, his parents moved the family to Baldwin, WI. On that day, Everett unloaded the family’s cattle from the train depot in Baldwin and drove them down what is now Highway 63, to the new farmstead on Pine Lake.  As a young man, Everett’s athletic skills were well known. He excelled in baseball, basketball, track and football during his years at Baldwin High School.  In High School, Everett met and soon fell in love with one of the local Dutch girls, Eleanor Brummels. At the age of 20, the two impetuous youth eloped to Nebraska and were married on July 17, 1941.   What followed was to be a 67-year love story.  The couple lived for over 60 years in the house they built on Curtis Street in Baldwin. From this union, came four children; Barb (Doug) Monteith of Woodville; Steven (Joan) Boldt of Baldwin; Jule (Dale) Hudson of Emerald; and Sandra (Randy) Bollom of Hammond, along with 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Everett was, above all else, a patriot who loved his country.  In 1942, Everett left his young bride to join the Army during WWII . He served in France. Upon his return from the war, Everett began a lifelong involvement with the American Legion, where he served as Commander and instigated his dream of a veteran’s memorial at the Baldwin Cemetery.   Everett attended the First Reformed Church in Baldwin where he served as a Trustee on several occasions and always encouraged his children to love the Lord, be involved, and use their God given talents.   Always involved in his community, Everett served as a Trustee for the Village of Baldwin, as well as numerous committees, and participating in community parades and events. But Everett’s most notable place in the community of Baldwin, was as the founder of Boldt’s Plumbing & Heating, the business he started over 55 years ago, with only $2000, a truck and his own dedication to hard work and service. Seldom was there a weekend or holiday that was not interrupted by Everett performing a service call for someone in need of furnace repairs, pipes fixed, or a drain unplugged. Even in retirement, his thoughts were never far away from the business he loved or the customers he had served. Always eager for an adventure, Everett & Eleanor cherished their many travel experiences in the United States as well as sponsored trips to London, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain and others. His favorite place to travel was Alaska and fishing in Canada. After retirement, Everett and Eleanor spent many winters in Apache Junction, Arizona, and met many new friends. Their trailer home at the lake in Hayward, WI was always filled with grandchildren, card games, fish stories and great times. If  there was such a thing as a ‘fish whisperer’, Everett would take the title. He was a master of finding and catching that big trophy Northern or Muskie, as well as that perfect nest of crappies and he was always the first one in the boat to get a bite. One of Baldwin’s most popular stories is told of Everett & Eleanor being stranded overnight and alone on a deserted Canadian island during a blizzard, where Everett made shelter until someone came to their rescue the next day.   Despite his strong appearance, Everett possessed a soft-heart that would bring him to tears every time he heard his girls sing,  gave a family prayer, congratulated a child or grandchild for an achievement or remembered to request Eleanor’s favorite song, ‘Spanish Eyes’. Everett and Eleanor loved to socialize, go dancing and make friends. Everett will be remembered for that sly little smile on his face, for unending card games where he somehow knew to throw just the card his kids needed; for that infectious  laughter he enjoyed with Eleanor and his family and for his desire to make sure everyone was OK.   During his final years, even as ailments slowly diminished the strong, confident personality that had earlier defined him, Everett stubbornly clung to the memories of the family he loved so much. He continued to encourage and support friends and relatives, in whatever capacity he could.      

Everett will remain in the hearts of his children; Barb (Doug) Monteith; Steven (Joan) Boldt; Jule (Dale) Hudson; Sandra (Randy) Bollom, along with 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren; siblings Maxine Bakke, Glen (Doris) Boldt, Arlene (Pete) Ortman, brothers/sisters-in-law Edna Boldt, and Hazel (William) Hoytink. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Eleanor, siblings Robert, Larry, Belva Bradley, brothers/sisters-in-law Howard Bakke, Dorothy (Harley) Wubbels, and Phyllis (Gerald) Hop.

Funeral service for Everett Boldt will be 11AM Wednesday May 4th at First Reformed Church in Baldwin. Burial with full military honors provided by the Baldwin American Legion Post #240 will be in the Baldwin Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5 until 8PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin and one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday morning.