Lewellyn C. "Pete" Redmond

Lewellyn C “Pete” Redmond, 95, passed away peacefully at the Chippewa Manor, Chippewa Falls on Friday, June 23, 2017. He had just moved from his home in Eau Claire to Wissota Place Assisted Living on May 25 and loved it there.

Pete was born January 28, 1922, in Jim Falls, the son of Clifford and Nina (Saltzgaber) Redmond. He grew up in Jim Falls and graduated from Chippewa Falls High School in 1941. He enrolled in the U.S. Army November 6, 1942 and received an Honorable Discharge on December 24, 1943. Pete married Nilah V. Boettcher on June 11, 1944, in Chippewa Falls. After working a short time at Presto Industries, he began working at U.S. Rubber (later called Uniroyal) tire factory in Eau Claire. Pete retired from Uniroyal on June 1, 1984 after 39 years of service. During those 39 years he also farmed near Jim Falls with his father, Clifford, and then for six years on a farm in Woodmohr Township, south of Bloomer. From 1965 to 1970 Pete & Nilah owned and operated an A&W Drive-Inn in Wisconsin Rapids. Pete and Nilah lived in Eau Claire since 1967.

Pete grew up fishing and hunting in the Jim Falls area. His other passion was buying salvage cars and returning them to “like new” condition. He also restored two Ford Model A’s that he was very proud of. Pete also had belonged to the Masons and later became a Shriner. He was the best dad in the world, you never had to ask him twice for help with anything, he would drop whatever he was doing, and be there almost before you hung up the phone. That was one of his great regrets of living to the age of 95, he was not able to help anyone anymore.

He is survived by children, Sandi (Roger) Hutton of Chippewa Falls and Brent (Terese) Redmond of Marshfield; grandchildren, Troy (Wendy) Hutton & Tanya (Barry) Lubs of Lake Hallie, Amy (Eric) Gruen of Marshfield, and Heather (Matt Biegert) Redmond of Woodbury, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Dalton, Bryce and Shea Hutton, Dylan, Sawyer and Lyvia Lubs, Leah and Joshua Gruen; and Ava and Samuel Biegert; one sister, Ardis Nazer of Chippewa Falls.

Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Nilah, in 2002; his parents; one brother, Lowell, at the age of three; a sister, Birdine Rustand; two brothers-in-law, Ervin Rustand and Edward “Bud” Nazer; and a niece, Darla Wallin.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2017 at the Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer, with David Olson officiating. Burial will be in Tilden Emmanuel Cemetery, Tilden. Friends may call from 12 to 2 p.m. Monday at the Olson Funeral Home.