Dr. Kenneth B. Wahl, DDS

Dr. Kenneth Blaine Wahl D.D.S., 79, of Fort Atkinson, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, at home.

He was born on Feb. 16, 1931, at Wausau, the son of the late Dr. Leonard and Helen (Nystrom) Wahl.

Ken attended Wausau High School and graduated Cum Laude from Shattuck Military School in Faribault, Minn. While at Shattuck he was in varsity football, wrestling and played tennis.

He later completed four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a major in zoology. Ken received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (D.D.S.) from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1959.

Ken married Mary Lu Hallett in May 1959. He completed a one-year residency in oral surgery at King's County Hospital in Bly, N.Y., in 1960. He then associated with his father in Wausau in a three-year approved preceptorship in a practice limited to orthodontics. It terminated after one year due to the death of his father.

He received a two-year Tom Jacob fellowship to finish his orthodontic training at Marquette University Dental School, but discontinued due to a medical problem.

Ken's military training consisted of four years of ROTC, volunteering for a draft of two years, serving during the Korean War, and being stationed with the 11th Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Ky. He trained as an infantry paratrooper and then was reassigned to the Medical Battalion Mash Unit Dental Corp.

Ken came to Fort Atkinson in 1964, where he bought a general dental practice from Dr. S. H. Severson, a wonderful mentor. He retired in 1995.

He served as past president of the Jefferson County Dental Society, a life member of the State and National Dental Society, and American Dental Society.

Ken was a "life" scout and member of the Order of the Arrow.

He enjoyed tent camping with his family, and all types of hunting, fishing and skiing.

One winter carnival at UW-Madison, he was hill captain for the Hoofers Ski Jumping Team on Muir Knoll.

While at UW he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity; at Northwestern, president of Dental Delta Sigma Delta.

In Fort Atkinson, Ken was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Memorial Hospital dental staff, Rotary Club, Fort WisConservation Club, past president of Jefferson County Mental Health Association, life member of the American Legion, AA, Alder's Group at the V.A. Hospital, Koshkonong Mounds, and Club 46.

Ken married Cora Odell in 1983.

After retirement, Ken lived a very simple life with his wife Patty, whom he married on April 6, 1991.

He wrote a brief autobiography, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," a story about his mental illness.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann (Woicek) Wahl; daughters, LuAnn (Cesar) Wahl Rodriquez of Plano, Texas, Lynda Sue (Vic) Babarskis of Danville, Ill.; and three grandchildren, Nicole, Hannah and Nicolas.

Also preceding him in death were his sisters, Jane Wahl Kraft and Virginia Ernest.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Jay Poster as celebrant. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the church until the time of service.

Burial will be held at a later date in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau with military graveside rites.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to NARSAD, Rainbow Hospice or to the church.

The Dunlap Memorial Home is assisting the family.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

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