Lucille C. Baumeister

• Lucille Claire Baumeister
• Born to Wade and Ruby (Rozell) McLaughlin on August 23, 1927.

Lucille was the eldest of five children. During her childhood, she lived on various farms throughout the Walworth County area, including a farm owned by Dr. Cook, of Illinois, which farm was most recently renovated into the Plantation on Hwy. 11. As a child, she was active in 4-H and in her congregation. She often reflected on the childhood joys of entering her 4-H exhibits in the fair, fishing, celebrating the 4th of July with watermelon, fireworks, and the East Troy parade.

Upon graduation from high school, she had various jobs in the Burlington area, including dental receptionist, ice cream shoppe attendant, and the Burlington Can factory. She bowled in a local league.

She met Gilbert B. Baumeister following his return from WWII, and they wed on November 15, 1952. He preceded her in death on November 14, 1989. 

Early in her marriage, following the tragic death of her mother in an automobile accident on May 25, 1954, at the intersection of Hwy. 11/120, she and her husband moved onto the farm and took care of her younger siblings, Ronald McLaughlin and Sheila Bourn, while they helped her dad and family run the farm. She often mentioned the generosity of their neighbors in planting and harvesting their corn that year and the huge dinner that followed on the property. Thereafter, she and Gilbert moved their young family to Burlington, Wisconsin, and eventually to Rochester, Wisconsin, where they lovingly renovated the Baumeister Homestead and brought it back to life with their gang of six children.

She provided a loving home to many family members throughout her life, including, but not limited to, her mother-in-law, Mary Baumeister, and her father, Wade McLaughlin. Her open arms extended to caring for a newborn niece, Jane Baumeister, for a number of weeks at the same time she was welcoming a newborn daughter of her own in 1968. Later in life, she met and welcomed into our family a wonderful companion, Art Yanke, who preceded her in death on March 10, 2012. She loved to dance, sew, read, go to dinner, have a beer or two, and visit with family and friends. She often volunteered for various events and told the story of baking 675 Christmas cookies for the VA while she was 8 months pregnant. She always made an effort to be there and enjoy her nephew, Mike Baumeister, and his band members, if Twin Rivers Band was playing anywhere in the area. 

Even a simple conversation made you realize the keen perspective she had regarding her life experiences, relationships, family values, and the world around her.

 In addition to her parents, her husband, and Art, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Kim Baumeister on November 9, 1995, her brothers Gene, Duane, and Ronald McLaughlin, sister, Sheila Bourn, sisters-in-law, Ann Subrod Bender, Dorothy Koehnke, Lyla Klinkosh, Mary Davies, and by brothers-in-law, Gerhard Baumeister, Elmer Baumeister, Fred (Fritz) Baumeister, James Baumeister, and Robert Baumeister, and numerous extended family members.

In love, loss, and mourning she leaves behind her children: Sharlene (Michael) Zinke, Gilbert B.(Missy) Baumeister, Jr., Cindy (Chuck)Giammo, Robert L. (Julie)Baumeister, and Vicki (Ed) Barels, her grandchildren whom she adored, Kelsey (Peter) Stocks, Denise (James) Prochniak, Peter A. (Cori)Toman, Robert L. Baumeister,III (Traci Haney) Bailey M. Baumeister, Madeline R. Baumeister, Brooke M. Barels, and Brady J. Barels, and great-grandchildren, Sawyer Castin Otto Stocks, Weston Michael Peter Stocks, and Ensley Lucille Toman.

 Visitation will be held 10AM-11:30AM Saturday, November 16, 2024 at MEALY-STENCEL FUNERAL HOME (225 W. Main Street Waterford, WI 53185), with a funeral service to follow at 11:30AM.

•  Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home
• 225 W. Main Street Waterford, WI 53185
• 262-534-2233
• www.stencelfh.com
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