David M. Lulich, 80, passed away at home on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, after a recent battle with esophageal cancer. He was born in Ashland on Dec. 14, 1935, to Samuel and Josephine (Franzel) Lulich.
David attended grade school at Unity, Mason and Benoit Schools. He graduated from Ondossagon High School in 1954. He was very active in the Future Farmers of America organization and served on the crops and dairy judging teams.
After graduation, he attended Reisch Auction School in Mason City, Iowa. He started working as an auctioneer for Thorp Finance and soon started his own business, Lulich Auction & Realty, in 1979. David donated his skills as an auctioneer to many community organizations, including being a 4-H market sale auctioneer for Douglas, Iron and Gogebic counties. He has been the sole auctioneer for the Bayfield County 4-H market animal sale for the last 49 years.
David married Robyn (Rockenbach) in Cable on Oct. 30, 1971. They made their home at the original Lulich farmstead in Mason.
David was a partner and later sole owner of the home dairy farm operation. He enjoyed milking cows and performing field work (especially with his Oliver tractors). His true passion was his livestock business, Benoit Livestock Market. He spent years buying, selling and trucking livestock throughout the Midwest. Those who knew him well could always share in lots of stories about his livestock adventures. In fact he was still dealing on livestock just two short weeks ago!
David was a member of the Wisconsin Livestock Dealers Association, Wisconsin Auctioneers Association, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Wisconsin FFA Alumni, and served on the vocational agriculture advisory committee for local high schools. He received many honorary FFA degrees and awards for his contributions throughout the years.
Over the last several years he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and teaching them to play cards, to do the auctioneering chant and about the Lulich family history.
He is survived by his wife, Robyn; four children: David Alan (Lori) of Lyndon Station, Maria (Jeff) Sauber of Lakeville, Minn., Joseph of Mason and Cindy (Timothy) Blodgett of Bayfield; grandchildren, Olivia and Ethan Lulich and Jacob, Colton and Kyle Sauber; sisters, Florence Hoglund, Josephine Skulan and Rose Adams. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Josephine Lulich; brothers, Steve, Frank, Sam and George; sisters, Frances and Margaret; and daughter, Julie Geraets.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 2 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Ashland. Father Paul Paré, O.F.M., will be the Celebrant.
Interment in the Saint Peter Cemetery, Dauby, will follow the mass.
An evening visitation, for family and friends, will be held at the Mountain Funeral Home, in Ashland, from 5 – 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 1, and will feature a 7:30 prayer service. The visitation will resume at the Our Lady of the Lake Church at 10 a.m. Saturday, and continue until the hour of the service.
Mountain Funeral Home’s Ashland chapel is assisting with the details of his memorialization.
Online condolences may be left at the Funeral Home website: MountainFuneralHomes.com.
