Adolph "Ade" King

Adolph “Ade” King, 76, town of Seymour, died peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.

On May 12, 1949, Adolph was born to Charles and Lucille (Hoepner) King, in Mundelein, IL. He graduated from Mundelein High School with the class of 1967. Adolph honorably served his country with the US Navy. He married Phyllis Anderson on July 11, 1970, and had two children, Jameison and Marcia. They later divorced but continued to maintain a friendship. Ade later married his longtime friend and partner, Karen Winegarden on December 19, 2008.

Ade spent his youth in Illinois playing baseball and eventually trying out for the Cincinnati Reds but knee injuries ended that dream. In the early 70’s Ade and his family moved to Bateman and he began playing softball and umpiring. He was instrumental with initiating numerous leagues, both managing and playing. Ade was very conscious of the game and its rules and was known to emphasize the respect of play. Being the leader he was, his favorite position was pitcher. If the game was not going well, he seldom had a temper but was competitive and dirt could possibly be kicked. Following his stroke in 2014, although he could no longer play, he still frequented many games, coaching, keeping book and cheering from the sidelines.

Ade worked for the Chippewa Falls Parks and Rec for many years. He loved keeping the grounds looking crisp and clean. Setting up lights for Christmas Village was a tradition he looked forward to every year. Retiring in 2010, he then focused his energy into turning his yard into a park. Gardening, planting grass and trees, digging holes, and pouring concrete. He was extremely proud of his castle with slides and an adjacent wiffleball field with lights, bleachers and a scoreboard.

We will always remember his generosity delivering baskets overflowing with treats for every holiday, his love for taking a chance on the lottery, sports, and horse racing, his eagerness to attend his grandchildren’s events and his contentment on his John Deere.

His legacy is that he was the finest man with the biggest heart who was always there when we needed him. He will be loved and cherished forever, always, and longer.

Adolph is survived by his wife, Karen; daughter, Marcia (Patrick) Bauer; son, Jameison (Tammy) King; bonus children, John Winegarden, Sarah Leino, and Jeremiah (Lisa Ripley) St. George; grandchildren, Dakota (Samantha Olson) King, Jessie (Seth Ferrian) Bauer, Noah King, Gabriel King, Jackson Forseth, Dominick (Avery) Forseth, Morgan (Cortlynn) Hewitt, Adam (Sam Kendall) Winegarden, Hannah (Dalton) Metzler, Emma Leino, Kate Leino (Jake Riihiluoma), Joseph Leino, and Sol Leino; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Brantley, Silas, Adelynn and Callahan; siblings, Ted (Jane) King and Lucinda (Jim) Walter; sister-in-law, Alice King; along with a legion of loving family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Clayton Neitzel; and brother, Jacob King.

The funeral service will be at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Saving Grace Lutheran Church, 3735 Jeffers Rd, Eau Claire, with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at church. Pastor David Irgens will be officiating. The interment will be in Augusta Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family that will be dedicated to planting trees.