Cletus "Steve" L. Henry

Cletus "Steve" Henry, age, 93 of Chippewa Falls, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Aggies Country Living in Bloomer, WI.

He was born January 21, 1932 to Ann and Louis Henry in Elk River, MN. After his family moved to St. Cloud, MN later and were neighborhood grocers. He attended St. Anthony's Grade School and Cathedral High School graduating in 1950.

Undetermined as to his future, a new radio station came to town and Steve offered to help the Sports Director during the broadcast of local football games. He questioned the director as to "how do you get into announcing" and his answer was to attend Brown Institute in the Twin Cities.

With financial help from his mom and dad, plus a part-time job, he enrolled and completed the course in the spring of 1951. The instructors felt he was ready to be placed at a station and his first paying radio job was in the deep south at Atmore, AL. It was a good start but soon homesickness took over and he returned to the Midwest to attend La Crosse State College and a job with WKBH.

He met Joan Franke of La Crosse, and they married, just prior to him leaving for Korea as an Army Trained Heavy Weapons recruit. Following four months of training at Fort Lewis, WA, he spent the next 18 months in Korea. The war, or conflict as it was often called, was grinding to a halt. Steve's overseas assignment was with a transportation battalion based at Chunchon, which provided support to our military troops with supplies of fuel and food.

After his tour ended, he flew home and took advantage of the GI Bill and returned to Brown Institute to complete an engineering course in broadcasting. Then followed jobs at Fargo, ND, Mankato, MN, and eventually Eau Claire. He and Joan began their family that eventually grew to four boys and four girls, a blessing indeed.

Steve's career expanded from radio to television. What a blast it was to host the "Lucky 13 Fishing Contest" on Sunday nights at WEAU-TV. He enjoyed his broadcasting days. Eventually, he started their family-owned company called North Country Enterprises to coordinate various public events in Wisconsin and Minnesota including sports shows, farm shows, and art fairs. London Square Mall and La Crosse Center were his favorite venues.

He felt blessed to have some of the best jobs one could have including the Fishing Hall of Fame at Hayward and the Tourism Organizations of Wisconsin Indian Head Country, and Minnesota Arrowhead, and was fortunate to be able to be a volunteer football coach for the Eau Claire YMCA youth program, freshman coach at Regis High School, and an intern coach at Notre Dame grade school in Chippewa Falls.

Over the years, Steve was an active member of the Chippewa Valley, serving in many capacities. He was a member of and served on the St. Bridget's Catholic Church, Holy Ghost and Notre Dame, he also did many visitations for people of the church, sang with the Chippewa Valley Gospel Choir, wrote many columns for both the Eau Claire Leader and Chippewa Herald newspapers, and did emceeing for many events.

Steve was a life member of both the Eau Claire and the Chippewa Falls American Legion groups. In 2018, Steve was blessed to be chosen to take the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with his fellow veterans.

He is survived by his wife, Joan of Chippewa Falls; children, Barb Henry of Mpls., MN, M.J Sharpe, of Chippewa Falls, Joyce Henry of Chippewa Falls, Sharon Munich of Farmington, MN, Mike Henry of Punta Gorda, FL, Tom (Ann “Tools”) Henry of Chippewa Falls, Bill (Sally) Henry of Cadott; daughter-in-law, Denise Henry of Chippewa Falls; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Robert Henry; grandson, Jordan Henry; son-in-law, Tony Munich; daughter-in-law Renee Henry and two brothers, Donald and Leroy Henry.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00pm on Monday, January 12, 2026, at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 2801 N. 110th Ave., Chippewa Falls, WI. Father Daniel Sedlacek presiding. Friends and family may meet for a time of visitation from 10:00am to 11:30am at the church.

Interment with military honors will follow services at St. Bridget’s Cemetery, Town of Lafayette, Chippewa County.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Steve’s name to Sojourner House in Eau Claire.

The family would like to thank Aggie’s Country Living for the care and compassion shown to them during this difficult time.

The Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, (715) 723-4649, is honored to assist the Henry family. Please visit https://www.pedersonvolker.com for online condolences and updated information.