Russell Richard Wegge, founder of Burlington RV Superstore in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, died March 21. He was 92.
The following is an obituary from Daniels Family Funeral Homes.
Russell Richard Wegge, lifelong resident of the Burlington community, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 21, 2025. He was 92, and proud of it.
He was born on July 6, 1932, the son of Herbert and Stella (nee Emerling) Wegge. On October 31, 1953, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Patricia McDonald, at St. Charles Church. If you took a drive with him up State Street toward St. Mary’s Cemetery, he would always say, “That’s where I first saw your mom. I asked my friend, ‘Who is that girl? I’ve got to meet her!’”
In his early years, he attended St. Mary’s Grade School and Burlington High School where he was very involved in athletics, including boxing, basketball and football. He worked in the family business founded by his father in Burlington, the Wegge Malt Beverage Company. After marriage to Patricia “Pat” in 1953, they raised five children, moving their family to the family farm homestead just north of the city in the then Town of Burlington on Highway 36 (where the Burlington Crossing Shopping Center sits today) and formerly known as Wegge Road. In 1963 after discovering the family’s love for crazy fun camping trips, Russ and Pat founded Burlington Camping and LP Gas Service. There they started out by renting folding camping trailers from their front yard. The business grew with the popularity of the camping lifestyle. They eventually changed the name to Burlington Camping & Travel, and then to Burlington RV Superstore, and along with several expansions, became the largest RV dealership in Wisconsin. The dealership drew camping enthusiasts from all over Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It was only fitting that he and Pat would create the Jayco Big Birds Camping Club. In 2006, after outgrowing the property in Burlington, the company moved to its current location off Highway 20 and I-94 in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. After 58 years in business, it was sold in 2021 to Lazydays RV.
Russ and Pat retired and spent over 40 years wintering in Naples, Florida. Pat loved the gulf and Russ loved to golf, play tennis, and coffee clutch with the fellas. Even in retirement, you could not take the RV out of him and he became Ambassador to Palm RV, his son Tom’s dealership in Fort Myers, Florida. Many of the family’s fondest memories are of spending family time at their home in Florida. Russ loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. Some of his favorite games to play with them were UNO, miniature golf, and hide and seek. His involvement in his grandchildren’s lives kept him young. Whether driving them to and from school, practices and games or attending their concerts and theater performances, he was always there. A constant presence in the stands, he was his grandkids’ biggest fan. He never missed an awards ceremony, grandparents’ day, graduation, or special event, always there to celebrate their achievements.
Russ was helpful in the formation of the Burlington Little League and sponsored a Little League team, the “Campers.” He enjoyed attending nearly every game while his grandsons played on the team. One of the highlights of his time as a proud grandfather was attending the Burlington Little League State Championship Tournament in Indianapolis in 2011. He was a longtime member of the Burlington Lions Club and retired grill master of the Lions Club Chicken Barbecue. Russ loved to joke around with everyone he met and was known for his quirky sayings and his quick wit. He was devout in his faith and belonged to St. Mary Catholic Parish.
Russell (aka Richard, Fred, Clyde) is survived by children, Patrick Wegge, Diane (Steve) Schiller, Tim (Brenda) Wegge, and Tom (Anne) Wegge; grandchildren, Katie (Tom) Kull, Sarah (Adam) Quackenboss, Haley (fiancé Travis Bachoven), Alec Wegge, Connor Wegge, Paige Wegge, and Hope (Noah) Janson; great-grandchildren Lilly Quackenboss and Hazel Quackenboss; sister-in-law Shirley Pierce, and much loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife Patricia, infant daughter Ann Wegge, son Michael Wegge, and brother Robert Wegge.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to long-time doctor and friend, Dr. Paul Webber, whom he loved to banter with. Also a warm and heartfelt thank you to the special caregivers at Oak Park Place whom he dearly loved and appreciated, the Aurora at Home Hospice Burlington, and Zilber Aurora Hospice. A warm thank you to special friends, Marilyn, Renee, Janay, and Brenda S. for their friendship and special care.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Alzheimer’s Association, Immaculate Conception St. Mary Parish, Aurora at Home Hospice, or to the Burlington Lions Club.
A Mass of Christian burial for Russell will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Burlington. A gathering will follow in Heim Hall to share stories and memories of Russ. A private burial will take place in St. Charles Parish Cemetery.
Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory
625 Browns Lake Drive
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-3434
