John Robert Webster “Jack” passed away on March 2, 2021, at his home surrounded by family following a brief illness. Jack, 68, was born on April 2, 1952 to Robert and Elizabeth (Klecker) Webster. Jack was the eldest of 8 living children to Bob and Betty, and spent his entire life living on the Webster family farm, farming with his parents and then with his brothers Ron and Brian. Jack attended school briefly at Hillcrest Elementary School in Ellsworth and then Lindgren Elementary for special needs students. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (Clayfield), where as a teenager he received the sacrament of First Holy Communion under the tutelage of Father George Hardy and Mary Litursky. With the closing of Clayfield in 1988, Jack became a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Ellsworth.
Jack was a participant of the Communication Disorders program at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, under the direction of Dr. Mike Harris PhD., beginning in the fall of 1982 until the pandemic hit last year. The students of the program would work with Jack weekly during the school year on cognitive, diction, and life skills. Jack would teach the students about the beauty of life as well. Jack never met a stranger whether it was at school, church, or the grocery store. He always appreciated all who visited and cared for him. He had a fascinating love for school buses his entire life. Most of all, he loved his family and friends, his priests, dog Duke, 4-wheeler, and Cub Cadet mower. The front yard will miss his undivided attention.
Jack is survived by 7 brothers and sisters, Dr. Rita Webster, PhD, Minneapolis, MN; Dianne (Terry) Foley, Williamsburg, IA; Ronald (Karen) Webster, Ellsworth; Sharon Foley, Brookings, SD; Mary Jo (Barry) Kruse, Zumbrota, MN; Bruce (Jill) Webster, Overland Park, KS; and Brian (Kim) Webster, Bay City, WI; his aunts Barb Klecker, Ellsworth; and Mary Socha, Cecil, WI; along with 23 nieces and nephews and 15 great nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elizabeth Webster, stillborn infant brother born Jan 9, 1973, maternal grandparents, Leon and Regina (Langer) Klecker, paternal grandparents, Edward and Anna (Hager) Webster; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A public visitation, with facemasks and social distance requirements due to COVID, will be held from 10:00am – 12:00pm on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at St. Francis Catholic Church, 231 Woodworth St., Ellsworth. For family members, a private Celebration of Life Funeral Mass officiated by Father David Olson will take place at 12:00 pm. Facemasks also required. The Mass will be livestreamed to https://youtu.be/AYmeDVxyv8Q. Burial will be at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Clayfield) Cemetery, Ellsworth Township. In lieu of flowers to honor Jack, the family prefers memorials to St. Francis Catholic School.
Funeral services have been entrusted to the O’Connell-Benedict Funeral Home of Ellsworth (715) 273-4421. www.oconnellfuneralservices.com
