ARTHUR “ART” ADAMS

Arthur R. “Art” Adams, Wisconsin Rapids, left this worldly presence on June 6, 2023 at Aspirus Riverview Hospital. Inurnment will be held at a later date, joining his ancestral family in the Hancock Village Cemetery, Waushara County. Arthur was born on Wednesday, November 27, 1946 the fourth child and third son of Norman Lynn and Ida Mae (Wiley) Adams of Hancock, Wisconsin and was the “little” brother of Nancy, Richard and Stephen Adams. Truman was U.S. President, “Baby Boomers” were on the way, the Nuremberg Trails began and, for those “locals”, with long memories, Art was born on the very day the “Walker Store” burned to the ground. He was the fifth grandson of William Carson Wiley and Ida Minnie (Slife) Wiley and the fifth and last grandson of Otis Clark Adams and Celia “Anna” (Barber) Adams. Art grew up in Hancock, and graduated with his friends from Hancock Grade School in 1960 and while growing up, worked as a Milwaukee Journal paperboy, electrician’s helper and a cash crop farm worker. He graduated from Tri-County High School in Plainfield in May 1964 and then attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point until enlisting in the Army on August 10, 1966. Art attended Army basic training at F. Leonard Wood, MO, and finished 2nd in his graduating class of 480. He was then sent to Ft. Sill, OK, where he graduated from field artillery Fire Direction and Control, Advanced Individual Training, advanced rapidly, and later as a Corporal taught classes in FDC at the USA Field Artillery Schools there. In 1967, Art was promoted to Specialist 5th Class and volunteered for a transferred to Ft. Lee, VA, where he attended and graduated from the Quartermaster Officers Candidate School and received his presidential commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (USA QMC) on November 21, 1967. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant (USA QMS) in 1968 at Ft. Riley KS, and to Captain (USAR QMC) in 1969. He was released from active duty on November 1969 and officially retired his commission on June 21, 2003. Art wed Carol Mras on November 25, 1967 and after 42 long years that regrettable union ended in divorce. After returning from active military service, Art served a 4 year DILHR / IBEW electrical apprenticeship through IBEW Local 1147, becoming a journeyman Wireman in 1974, and worked on many projects around the state. He later served on the IBEW Local 388 IBEW/DILHR (JATC) Electrical Apprenticeship & Training Committee. In 1983, after gaining his Master Electrician’s license, launched Adams Electric Service, and for more than 35 years, worked for and gained many new friends, “quitting” in 2007 and finally actually “retiring” in 2017. (“Where every job is a Work of Art”) Art was a member and also served as president of both the St. Mary’s (OLQOH) Parish Council and Men’s Group 2 and was a charter member of the original St. Lawrence Parish Men’s Group and their building committee. For many years, he was chairman of the Kellner BSA Troop 33 Executive Committee, a Samoset Council BSA new Explorer Post start-up coordinator and for 10 years the BSA Troup 33 sponsor’s representative from, and an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Wisconsin Rapids, where he also served as the club mess officer and annual Assumption High School Athletic Association/Kiwanis Pancake Day Chairman. He enjoyed sharing his life with his three children, watching and supporting their many musical and sporting activities and he seldom, if ever, missed an event wherever in the state it might take him and his video camera. He also enjoyed fishing, swimming, water sports and boating with his children, hunting with his friends and just plain “working”. He had a great love of life, enjoyed his work, music, roller dance skating, woodworking and spending quality time with and enjoying privilege of being accepted into the “inner circles” of his closest friends for whom there was nothing he wouldn’t do. Art is survived by his three children, Andrew (Jennifer (“Squiggy”) Kapla) Adams, and their sons, Leo Hughs and Malcolm, Arden Hills, MN; Elizabeth (“Gumpa”) (Joel) Adams-Hoag and their daughter, Abigail, Thoma, WI; and Molly (“Puddin”) (Andrew) Adams-Bohnsac, Madison, WI; He is also survived by twin older brothers, Richard Carson Adams, Gladstone, Michigan and Stephen Clark Adams, Fairbanks, Alaska. He also leaves behind many friends including the special extended families of Kevin and Jennifer Huchthausen, Wausau, Charles and Pat Gussel, Wisconsin Rapids, and Dr. James and Kathy Rocco, Ramsey, MI., and “his” very special boys, Joey and Bobby Rocco, Ramsey, MI. his life-long love and “golfing” best friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy LoRayne Adams, cousin’s Dee Ann Adams, Dale Mills, John and Thomas Wiley and his parents, grandparents and all of his aunts and uncles. In lieu of flowers, cards, etc., please send any donations honoring his memory to, Incourage Community Foundation, directed to the unrestricted LHS Scholarship fund, 478 East Grand Ave, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. After many years of raising a family, working hard, playing hard and being “damn near perfect”, Art has gone home and is now finally at rest with his family, but is still working on being truly “perfect”…. Stahl Funeral and Cremation Services are assisting Art’s family with arrangements, www.stahlfuneralhome.com