Board Members and contacts

Sexton:  Russell Hanson  715 553 1528 Cell  wolfcreekcemetery@gmail.com 

The sexton answers questions about existing graves, grave purchases and other business with the public including genealogical information

Chairman:  Philip Brenizer

Treasurer:  Marlys Sacia   

Secretary: Scott E Hanson

Board Members:    Donna Blair, James Sacia, Darrell Nelson, Jeff Kuettel, Brad Swenson, Kelly Wilson 

September 21,  2023, board member Rick Davidsavor passed away.  He had been a member for many years and was key to keeping the cemetery working.  His Obituary 

 We often have openings on the cemetery board.  If you would like to help out, please consider volunteering as a board member.  Generally we have 4-6 evening board meetings per year plus a May Wolf Creek Cemetery Association meeting.  Board members decide on policies, expenditures, and volunteer to help out with some of the projects we choose to do. 

Richard Davidsavor, Wolf Creek Cemetery sexton, treasurer, secretary and volunteer for many years passed away 9/21/2023  He was an important part of keeping the cemetery thriving and will be missed greatly.  Our deepest sympathy to his family.  He was buried in the extended family lot by his grandparents and parents and other relatives. 

Richard Alan (Rick) Davidsavor, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and pillar of the community, passed away on September 21, 2023, at the age of 67 at his home in Wolf Creek. He was born on July 30, 1956, in Amery, to his proud parents, Richard (Pat) Davidsavor and Evelyn (Jean) Johnson.

Rick's early years were marked by academic success, culminating in his graduation from Luck High School as class speaker. However, his journey through school was unique, as he did not immediately receive his diploma due to significant outstanding detentions, a testament to his vibrant personality.

In 1976, Rick married Barbara Swenson, the love of his life, and together, they raised their two cherished sons, Travis and Troy, in the close-knit community of Cushing and Wolf Creek.

Rick's life was defined by an unwavering commitment to public service. He dedicated an incredible 51 years to the Cushing Rural Fire Department, serving as an EMT-I, first responder, firefighter, assistant fire chief, and community volunteer. His passion for firefighting led him to teach various courses in the field at WITC, where he was an instructor, sharing his expertise in vehicle extrication, water rescue, high angle rescue and numerous related topics to colleagues across the state. Beyond firefighting, Rick served as a part-time police officer in several municipalities in Polk and Burnett Counties. He also worked as a deputy at Polk County, exemplifying his dedication to his community. His patrols on boat and snowmobile not only focused on safety but also provided valuable education and positive interactions to those he served. In recognition of his dedication to the community, Rick was honored with the State of Wisconsin 2021 Hometown Hero Award - 28th Assembly District First Responder of the Year. As a first responder, Rick directly impacted the lives of hundreds of people throughout the years.

Rick served as the sextant at the Wolf Creek Cemetery and spent many evenings carefully preparing graves for the families in the community. He was also never far when maintenance was needed at the Wolf Creek Church, where he and his family worship.

Throughout his life, Rick wore many hats and kept his hands busy. He worked as a truck driver for Shafer Construction and as a truck driver for Salem Carpet Mills (Shaw) delivering carpets to stores across the upper Midwest. To spend more time with his family, he accepted the role of road maintenance for the Town of Sterling, one of the largest rural townships in Wisconsin, and later for the Polk County Highway Department, where he eventually retired. He also owned and operated Aqua-Trek Divers, a business where he, his sons, family, and friends performed salvage diving, vehicle recovery, and installed and removed docks and boat lifts on the many area lakes.

As a man who couldn’t rest idle, Rick's retirement was short-lived. He began working part-time for Environmental Stone and, most recently, at Neo Electric where he enjoyed his role as equipment mover and as a radio car operator helping with electrical construction at airports across the area.

Rick's greatest joy was being a father and grandfather. His two grandchildren, Josh and Bren Davidsavor, held a special place in his heart, and he was ever willing to share his wisdom and life lessons with them. His hobbies and interests were many - he enjoyed traveling and exploring with his family, hunting, reading, beekeeping, trapping, and gardening. Rick was known for his unshakable confidence and his willingness to charge into any situation. He was never without an opinion, wouldn’t miss a chance to let you know how to do what you were doing better, and made a lasting impact on everyone he encountered.

Rick is survived by his wife Barb of Wolf Creek, son and wife Travis and Deb Davidsavor and their daughter Bren of Esko, Minnesota, son Troy Davidsavor of St. Croix Falls, grandson Josh Davidsavor of Milltown, siblings: brother Steve and wife Brenda of Atlas; brother Doug of Circle Pines, Minnesota; brother Jerry of Balsam Lake; sister Kelly Rogers and partner Rob Spotz of Tunas, Missouri; and half-brother James (Buck) Maack of Henderson, Nevada. He is also survived by sister-in-law Carolyn and husband Roger Van Denheuval of Hewitt, Minnesota; brother-in-law Chuck and wife Delores Swenson of Alpha; brother-in-law Tim Swenson of Alpha; sister-in-law Marcia and husband Jeff Lade of Trade Lake; and brother-in-law Marlin and wife DeAnne Swenson of Eau Claire. Rick is remembered with love by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends and colleagues who were fortunate enough to share in his life's journey.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Doris and Kenneth Swenson of Alpha, his mother Jean Maack of Henderson, Nevada, and father and stepmother Pat and Louise Davidsavor or St. Croix Falls.

Rick Davidsavor's memory will forever be cherished, and his legacy of service and dedication will continue to inspire us all. A celebration of his remarkable life will be held at the Cushing Community Center on Sunday, October 8, 2023, to honor the man who touched the hearts of so many. Visitation will be from noon to 2:00 pm. Pastor Mark Peacock will lead a service at 2:00 pm with reception and food to follow. A private interment at Wolf Creek Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any memorials be made to either the Cushing Rural Fire Department or the Wolf Creek Cemetery Association, two organizations close to Rick's heart.

across the area.

Rick's greatest joy was being a father and grandfather. His two grandchildren, Josh and Bren Davidsavor, held a special place in his heart, and he was ever willing to share his wisdom and life lessons with them. His hobbies and interests were many - he enjoyed traveling and exploring with his family, hunting, reading, beekeeping, trapping, and gardening. Rick was known for his unshakable confidence and his willingness to charge into any situation. He was never without an opinion, wouldn’t miss a chance to let you know how to do what you were doing better, and made a lasting impact on everyone he encountered.

Rick is survived by his wife Barb of Wolf Creek, son and wife Travis and Deb Davidsavor and their daughter Bren of Esko, Minnesota, son Troy Davidsavor of St. Croix Falls, grandson Josh Davidsavor of Milltown, siblings: brother Steve and wife Brenda of Atlas; brother Doug of Circle Pines, Minnesota; brother Jerry of Balsam Lake; sister Kelly Rogers and partner Rob Spotz of Tunas, Missouri; and half-brother James (Buck) Maack of Henderson, Nevada. He is also survived by sister-in-law Carolyn and husband Roger Van Denheuval of Hewitt, Minnesota; brother-in-law Chuck and wife Delores Swenson of Alpha; brother-in-law Tim Swenson of Alpha; sister-in-law Marcia and husband Jeff Lade of Trade Lake; and brother-in-law Marlin and wife DeAnne Swenson of Eau Claire. Rick is remembered with love by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends and colleagues who were fortunate enough to share in his life's journey.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Doris and Kenneth Swenson of Alpha, his mother Jean Maack of Henderson, Nevada, and father and stepmother Pat and Louise Davidsavor or St. Croix Falls.

Rick Davidsavor's memory will forever be cherished, and his legacy of service and dedication will continue to inspire us all. A celebration of his remarkable life will be held at the Cushing Community Center on Sunday, October 8, 2023, to honor the man who touched the hearts of so many. Visitation will be from noon to 2:00 pm. Pastor Mark Peacock will lead a service at 2:00 pm with reception and food to follow. A private interment at Wolf Creek Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any memorials be made to either the Cushing Rural Fire Department or the Wolf Creek Cemetery Association, two organizations close to Rick's heart.

Duane Doolittle was the Sexton for many years after his father, Ralph Doolittle died.  Duane's Obituary

Ralph Doolittle was the sexton from about 1950 - his death in 1992.  A newspaper column covered his life when he was 87. The text of it

Friends & Neighbors
Ralph Doolittle

This week’s Friends and Neighbors subject, Ralph Doolittle, takes in a little sunshine in the Cushing area last week.

A compliment one often hears when listening to a description of an older person is “his (or her) mind is as clear as a bell.” However, this week’s Friends and Neighbors subject, Ralph Doolittle is “Almost 87” and has a mind that really is clear as a bell. In fact, listening to him name dates and figures off the top of his head from a half century ago or more makes one think Ralph is the owner of a memory more accurate than most reporters one hears of these days.

Hard work and doing his share of community duties seem to be the theme of Doolittle, who was born in the last years of the 19th century on a farm near Cresco, Iowa, which is located about 65 miles southeast of Rochester, Minnesota.

He was working on his parent’s farming operation when World War I broke out and, always being one who wanted to be where the action is, enlisted in the Army in May of 1918. After “Boot Camp” at Fort Dodge, Iowa, Ralph endured a quarantine of his unit for measles and landed in Brest, France the following October. Ralph and his once-quarantined unit never caught up with the rest of his company and consequently never had to go to the front. The only difference he doesn’t regret other than the fact he never got to see Paris.

After the war, Ralph returned to farming in Iowa, signing up as a member of the American Legion, an organization he has continued for the past 63 years. It should be pointed out Doolittle is proud of his continuing active membership in the Legion and most recently attended a state convention in Eau Claire.

During the time Ralph was in Iowa, his older brother ran an ad in one of the local newspapers for the St. Croix Falls’ Baker Land and Title Company, offering good, cheap farmland near Cushing, Wisconsin. Several years after he moved up here, his brother fell ill and passed away, leaving a young family to make do. Ralph came up here to help keep his late brother’s farming operation going and has been here ever since.

Ralph took pride in putting in a full day’s work until a tractor accident put him on the shelf in 1971. “I was trying to pull out a truck that was stuck in the mud when my foot slipped off the clutch and as a result I was flipped over backwards with me underneath,” recounted Doolittle, adding, “I was in the hospital for 50 days, I had a lot of internal injuries.” The accident slowed him down considerably in terms of farm work, but he remained active in the community. In fact, Ralph has always been up to something constructive. These activities have included serving as clerk of Sterling Township, treasurer and president of the Cushing Cooperative Creamery and secretary-treasurer for the Wolf Creek Cemetery Association. Ralph still is president of the Cushing Coop Creamery, even though it closed its doors in July of 1980.

Ralph explained that situation by saying: “Well, we’re not operating, but we still haven’t sold all the machinery and so we can’t close the books.” The Cushing Creamery stayed in business much longer than most similar-sized creameries in Wisconsin. According to Ralph, “It just wasn’t in the cards. Inflation did us in and rather than lose some of what we had accumulated, we decided to shut down before the creamery’s debt got too bad.”

Ralph also continues to hold his position with the Wolf Creek Cemetery Association, but admits he no longer cuts the grass or digs graves. He indicated he hopes his son Duane and his family will take over when he gets around to stepping down. It should be noted he has apparently passed his sense of community involvement down to Duane, who is the secretary of the Cushing Coop and a member of the St. Croix Falls Board of Education.

Ralph said he has seen the local farming industry undergo many changes during his life, most notably the increased use of machinery over hand labor, and a much larger amount of corn acreage being planted. “There used to be a lot more oats and small grains grown around here,” noted Doolittle. He theorizes one of the reasons for this is there are less farm horses than there used to be, with modern machinery taking up the bulk of field work. “There are a lot more gas stations and a lot less horses. That’s probably why not too many people grow oats anymore, as oats are a horse’s gasoline.”

Ralph said he never really had the desire to move into a town, even a small one such as Cushing. Giving it some thought, he made one of his frequent observations that belies his still analytical mind: “I’ve got nothing against living in town, but what’s it got that we don’t have out here? It used to be that farm folks who had a paid-up mortgage and social security could move into town when they retired, you know, get city water and sewer hook-ups. Now, it seems it’s the other way around and lots of people from town are trying to move back out to the country.”

Ralph is also involved with leadership of the Cushing Coop and laments the fact the Coop is undergoing some financial difficulties. He summed the situation up in simple terms, saying: “We need more patrons; that’s what we need. We need a hardware that can compete with those chains like Holiday Village and the Cub stores.” Ralph was quick to point out, however, that “It’s not a disgrace to be in financial trouble; I guess look at all those outfits that are going broke, Chrysler, International Harvester, New York City, Chrysler even.” He (the Cushing Coop) is in pretty good company when it comes to financial woes.