Darwin “Nub” R. Higgins, age 87 of the Township of Bear Creek, passed away late Monday evening, November 15, 2021 at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton.
Darwin “Nub” Roy Higgins was born February 21, 1934 in Antigo, WI, son to the late Leon and Esther (Schmidt) Higgins. He graduated from Clintonville High School with the class of 1953 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany for most of his deployment and served in the infantry as well as working with the Military Police units. While in Europe, he was able to travel a lot and saw many countries. After his honorable discharge, Nub started working for the F.W.D., Clintonville where he was a machinist for over 42 years. He also drove a school bus for the Clintonville School district for years. He met Shirley Knapp at a dance, and the couple later married at Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville on August 2, 1958. He was a member, and past commander of V.F.W. Post# 664, Clintonville, and helped put up many tents over the years for parties and get-togethers. When he had spare time, he loved to spend time in his garage fixing all kinds of things for others and for jobs around the property; he also made his own tractor. For a while, after someone had given him some pigs as payment for a job he did, Nub added chickens, horses, and other farm animals to the mix. His children remember this time fondly; taking care of the animals and using the horses to pull sleds and buggies. Nub and Shirley loved to dance over the years, especially Polka; they were even declared King and Queen Polka Dancers. He was able to travel with Shirley and their friends around the U.S. and Canada. Nub loved the outdoors, whether it was fishing, hunting, or working outside. He also loved watching Westerns, Jeopardy, and the Green Bay Packers. For fun, he liked to play card and table games with friends and family. As a part of recognizing his service to our country, he took the Honor Flight on September 3, 2015. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, an honorable veteran, and for how much he loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Shirley; daughters, Sandy (Larry) Bruette, Bear Creek and Patsy (Jeff) Kautz, Embarrass; son, Randy Higgins, Clintonville; grandchildren: Erica (Steven) Fischer, Ashley (Tyler) Steenbock, Cody (Brittany) Bruette, Nicole (Beau) Larsen, Christopher Higgins, Trevor Higgins, Connor (Taylor Junk) Bruette; great-grandchildren: Nora and Teagan Fischer and Hudson and Jackson Steenbock; sister, Shirley Wilke, Clintonville; brother, Robert Higgins, Embarrass; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles (Anita) Higgins; a sister, Bonnie Hagen; a sister-in-law, Eunice Higgins; and a brother-in-law, Terry Hagen.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Monday, November 22, 2021 at Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville with the Rev. Brian Crocker officiating. Military honors will be conducted at the church by VFW Post 664, American Legion Post 63, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit #63, all of Clintonville. Interment will take place at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville. Visitation will take place from 4 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville, and again at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.