Sydney B. Hovde, 90

Sydney B. Hovde of Mauston, Wis., born Oct. 8, 1921, in Gilman, Wis., died Aug. 19, 2012, in New Lisbon, Wis.

He is survived by wife Mildred M. (Schommer) Hovde; children, Thomas (Francine) Hovde, Barbara (Ken) Wise, Gail (Jim) Williamson, Roger Hovde, Mark Hovde, Shelly Lastinger, Cynthia Hubbard, Karen Daunhauer; stepchildren, Jame (Jean) Udeloven, Linda Railsback; grandchildren, Amy, Jill, Jasmine, Dane, Ryan, Ben, Ashley, James, Thaniel, Dylan, Aimelie, Lucas, and Cassie; great-grandchildren, Casandra, Marcus, Travis, Elizabeth, Nathaniel, Drake, Caleb, Miguel, Margo, Chloe, Taylor, Angela, Nicholas, Jack, Chaz, Colin, Lauren, and Jace; and one sister, Genevieve Rugo of River Falls.

He was preceded in death by his wife Gwen; parents, Ben and Nelle Hovde; brothers, Carlyle, Milton; sisters Geraldine Meier and Aloha Joan.

From "A Portrait of Syd Hovde" by Virginia Mountford:

"'If you love your work, it isn't work!' A comment from retiring Syd Hovde after completing 47 plus years with the Department of Natural Resources and 33 years on the WCTPA Board of Directors.

After spending 3 years in the U.S. Air Force, Hovde started his career on Dec. 20, 1948, with the Department of Natural Resources; at that time, it was known as the Wisconsin Conservation Department. On March 19, 1996, Hovde retired from the DNR as Area Forester Supervisor of the Wisconsin Rapids area. Then, in July 1996, Hovde also turned his directorship on the WCTPA Board over to some new faces.

Syd has the distinction of attaining the current record for the longest employment with the Department of Natural Resources. He also has the longest tenure on the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association Board of Directors. Elected to the board in 1963, Syd served president from 1966-68 and vice president from 1964-66. Born on Oct. 8, 1921, in Pierce County, Syd got his degree in forestry from Michigan State University in 1948, prior to being hired as forester for Juneau County. He served as the Christmas Tree Specialist for the DNR for many years.

During World War II, Hovde was a member of the 2nd Air Division that flew 30 combat missions over Europe as a B-24 crew member. There he earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and four Battle Stars, including the Battle of the Bulge. Syd received the 'Guardsman Award' for meritorious service in development of Volk Field and Hardwood Air to Ground Range.

Hovde was employed by the Minnesota-Ontario Paper Company for a few short months before going to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. During his 48 years with the DNR, Syd was responsible for county, state, and private forestry, and related cooperative activities in Central Wisconsin. He was responsible for the establishment of over 50,000 acres of forest plantation, devising appraisal systems for public land timber sales, utilization activities resulting in increased use of low quality wood, and development of several primary wood-using industries.

A member of the National Society of American Foresters 9SAF, Syd was elected a 'Fellow' of SAF in 1991, a prestigious award given to only 34 fellows from the 18,000 nationwide membership in 1991. A SAF member is elected in recognition of outstanding service to forestry and society. The basic requirements include contributions to the application of forestry, education, research and the advancement of the profession and society. IN addition to participating in SAF forestry tours to Germany, Alaska, Scandinavia, and England, Syd served as chair of the Wisconsin Rapids Chapter in 1962."

Sydney Hovde was interred at the Mauston Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 25.

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