Mon 11-Jun-2001
James Michael Roenitz
Arthur N. "Art" Uselding, age 91 years, of 825 Hwy. D, Belgium, died peacefully Sunday morning, June 10, 2001, at his home following a short courageous battle with cancer.
He was born Nov. 17, 1909 on a farm southwest of Holy Cross in the Town of Belgium, son of John and Mary Bares Uselding. The family later moved to the Uselding homestead farm on Six Mile Road in the Town of Belgium.
Art was always a farmer at heart and worked at the Calumet-Dutch Canning Co., owned and operated the Belgium Mill and together with his late wife Julia owned and operated Uselding Bros. Grocery Store in Belgium from 1947 to 1968.
On November 7, 1934 he married Julia Kraus at St. Mary Church, Lake Church. She preceded him in death in 1998. He was a co-founder and part owner of the Belgium Community Center and worked for many years in the Service and Parts Department of Flaherty Chevrolet-Oldsmobile Dealership in Port Washington until retiring.
He will always be remembered for his love of gardening, providing fruits, vegetables, and especially raspberries for many residents of Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties.
He enjoyed plowing snow and even at age 91 cleared many driveways in the area. He was an avid sheepshead player and loved to play Crazy 8's with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lake Church, member and currently treasurer of Catholic Order of Foresters Nativity Court 1592, member of Belgium Fire Department for 60 plus years, a former village of Belgium Trustee and a member of the Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin where he assisted in planning the annual Luxembourg Festival.
Art was devoted to praying the rosary several times a day and even oftener upon special requests for prayers. His family took much comfort in praying it with and for him during his final months.
He is survived by his children Marie (Robert) Prom of Belgium, John (Donna) of Fort Worth, Tex. and Arthur Jr. (Ann) of East Troy; one sister, Alice Meyer of Great Falls, Mont.; two sisters-in-law, Leona Uselding and Marie Broecker; grandchildren and great-grandchildren Mike (Ann) Prom and children Becky, Eric and Ben of Rhinelander, Chris (Linda) Prom and children Andy and Grace of Champaign, Ill., Michelle (Todd) Runke and daughter Julia of Wallace, Mich., Melissa Prom of Belgium, Andy (Melissa) Uselding and daughter Jessica of Grand Prairie, Tex., Julia (Mike) Leonard and children Matthew and Abby of Fort Worth, Sarah Uselding of Fort Worth, Joe Uselding of Whitewater and Mark Uselding of East Troy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Geraldine, brothers Ray and Eddie and sister Mary.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 12, 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Lake Church, preceded by family rites at 10 a.m. at the Eernisse Funeral Home, 171 N. Royal Ave., Belgium. Father James Ernste will officiate. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Friends may call at the Eernisse Funeral Home in Belgium Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. A parish vigil will be held at the funeral home Tuesday at 8 p.m.
A memorial fund has been established in his name for St. Mary Parish School of Lake Church, Headwaters Christian Youth, Rhinelander or The WARM Place, Fort Worth, Tex.