Todd Wohlt

1968 - 2016

Wohlt, Todd

Todd Jami Wohlt, age 47, passed away from complications of colon cancer on the morning of May 27 surrounded by his loving family. Todd was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on August 29, 1968 to Jack Wohlt and Barbara (nee Boyson) Wohlt. Todd grew up in New London, Wisconsin and was a 1987 graduate of New London High School. He also earned a BFA degree from UW Stevens Point in 1994. Todd married his college sweetheart Julie Anne Barber on October 1, 1994 in Big Bend, Wisconsin. Together they had three children—Sebastian (age 14), Sawyer (age 13), and Elizabeth (age 5). His children were his greatest treasures; he loved them unconditionally. Todd was a graphic artist employed over the past 20 years by Bemis in New London, Directions in Neenah, and OEC Graphics in Oshkosh.

Art was in Todd's blood. He inherited tremendous artistic talent and shared his gift with the world. He restored a 1907 character home with his wife Julie, he refurbished a 1953 Ford pickup truck and two Farmall tractors, and he crafted exquisite bird carvings. At age 12, Todd took an interest in his Grandpa Boyson's old wood hunting decoys, and his life-long passion for bird carving was born. When Todd was 14, his parents took him to see an exhibition of bird art at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum (LYWAM) in Wausau, Wisconsin. This proved a pivotal experience in Todd's young life; he decided he wanted to achieve the level of artistry that the he saw on display. He began carving seriously and within a year began completing in national carving shows. At 20 years old, Todd had one of his carvings selected for the prestigious LYWAM's annual Birds in Art Exhibit. At 21 years old, Todd won the World Wildfowl Carving Championship in Ocean City, Maryland. Todd would continue to take top honors at the competition for years to come, winning the world championship title a total of seven times. This spring marked Todd's 30th trip to the annual competition, and he was awarded Living Legend honors by the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Today, the bulk of Todd's carvings reside in museums and private collections around the world.

In addition to his family and his art, Todd's passions were enjoying the great outdoors—he loved hunting wildfowl and deer (with both gun and bow), gardening, birdwatching, and cheering on his Packers at Lambeau Field in all kinds of weather.

Todd is survived by his parents Jack Wohlt of Weyuawega and Barbara Wohlt of Appleton and his parents' new partners Sharon Wohlt and Dale Hintz; his wife Julie and their three beautiful children—Sebastian, Sawyer, and Elizabeth; his brother Troy (Kathy) Wohlt; his sister Summer (Brian) Frame; his grandmother Delores (Kleist) Boyson and her special friend Fred Barth; his in-laws Ty and Joan Barber, Ray Barber, and Amy (Sean) Kelly; his nieces and nephews—Morgan, Lily, Jack, Rita, Henry, Margaret, Vigo, Lochlann, Graham, and Julian, Fiona; his "Padre" Pedro Jimenez and his wife Sue; and many other friends and family. Todd is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Ray and Janet Wohlt, his maternal grandfather Hugh Boyson, great-aunt Rita Kleist, great-uncle Gilbert Kleist, and cousin Josh Rigotti. Todd was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, 1130 W. Marquette St., Appleton where a memorial service honoring Todd will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11AM. Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, June 1, from 3-7PM and on Thursday, from 10AM until the time of service.

Todd and his family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Avi Barlev, Dr. William Guenther, Dr. David Nagorney, and the countless medical staff at Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology in Appleton, UW Madision, Appleton Medical Center, Atlantic General Hospital, Maryland, and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for their compassion, medical care, and support in mounting an aggressive strategy against his disease.