Alan (Smiley) Henry Wiltscheck began life on February 22, 1948 as the third son to Harold and Adeline Wiltscheck of Sigel township New Ulm, Minnesota. Early life on the farm was characterized by hard work, mischief, and a rough and tumble childhood that could stand as a testament to the durability of young boys. Smiley was eventually joined by two more brothers, two sisters and a community of neighboring children.
Smiley’s education began at the one room Clear Lake School where he and his siblings would ride to 5 deep on their hopped up Cushman scooter. It wasn’t until an encounter with nuns from Cathedral where the nickname of “Smiley” originated. Some stories allege that as German was his first language, it was a mere misunderstanding that led him to defiantly smile in the face of an angry nun, earning mockery (and fights) from peers. Or it might have been that he was known to have a perpetual smile on his face. Due to many pranks and tomfoolery, while smiley may have been a member of the graduating cathedral class of 1966, he did not graduate. He would subsequently join the National Guard in 1968 and four years later receive an honorable discharge.
Smileys noteworthy musical career began around the age of 11 when his parents paid for concertina lessons. The lessons were short lived, however, as Smiley chose to pocket the money and catch a ride to town for fun instead. To fool his parents, he would diligently practice lesson songs by ear but would never learn to read music until much later in life. During his career he played concertina with bands Slim Kalz, Harold Loeffelmacher, Bockfest Boys, The Valley Boys, as well as many other bands throughout the years. He also played bass guitar with Summers Eve. Smiley started playing at Bockfest first with his mom in 1987, eventually with Bockfest Boys, and made his final appearance there in 2023, 36 years later.He was known for making unsolicited appearances at birthdays, weddings, and wherever music or stories were to be heard.
Smiley was a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast. In 1965 at the age of 17, he traveled to the World’s fair in New York on a newly purchased Harley-Davidson Sportster. This led to the lifelong passion for travel and motorcycles. In 1965 he also joined the Flying Dutchman Motorcycle Club and has continued active membership until his passing. He was a proud member of the club and helped at many club events as well as spectating at events across the region. He was instrumental in converting and remodeling the existing clubhouse as well as bringing motorcycle flat track racing to New Ulm in the mid 1990’s. Quite often while attending events across the Midwest, people will hear you are from New Ulm and ask, “Doyou know Smiley”? As with many people he interacted with, he left an impression and made lifelong friends with those he met during his travels.
Never one to sit still, and despite little official higher education, he was a proud jack of all trades and a master of none (maybe a few). He drove truck in all states save Hawaii and Alaska, built foundations, laid pipe, wired, poured concrete, Sprayfoamed, constructed roads, fixed anything, built endless contraptions, raised chickens for fun, and never stopped learning. He avidly read, watched, and practiced any topic or skill that interested him. His final studies were courses on bread baking, history, physics, and even astrophysics prompting him to deliver many loaves of bread and to purchase “PAR SEC” license plates. After driving over one of his phones out of frustration, he even learned to use FaceTime to speak with out-of-state grandchildren.
Smiley married twice: First to Beverly Soehren in 1968 and then Mary Lou Meyer whom he met in 1983 and married in 1993. Between them, he is survived by: Brad Wiltscheck (Pam) and grandchildren Ashtyn and Ryan; Russel Wiltscheck (Barbie) and grandchildren Brooklyn, Evan, and Adam; Erin Wiltscheck (Nathan Weets) and grandchildren Olivia and Vivian; twins Kati and Clayton Wiltscheck; Maria Wiltscheck (D’Artagnan Wood) and grandchildren Aleksandar and Yvonne; and Rosa Wiltscheck. He is survived by his mother Adeline Wiltscheck, brothers Randy (Carol), Gene (Kris), Ricky, and sisters Joanne Hacker and Kathy Jackson (Gregg Handley). He is preceded in death by his father Harold, and brothers Robert and Gary Wiltscheck.
He was known throughout the community as a generous soul who had the time to stop and chat, even when pressed for time, truly random acts of kindness, sometimes good but mostly bad jokes, and business skills that resulted in many lifelong friends and not necessarily profit.
Services for Smiley will be held at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – NORTH chapel (218 N BroadwayStreet) in New Ulm on Friday July 5th, 2024 from 3 to 7pm and on Saturday July 6th, 2024 from 11am untilnoon followed by a small prayer service at the funeral home chapel. There will then be a procession out to the Flying Dutchmen clubgrounds (20513 110th Ave, New Ulm) for a celebration of life. Everyone is welcome and fellow musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments to do a ‘Smiley’ and play a few tunes. Beer and food will be provided until it runs out and then more beer is available for purchase at the bar. Prost!
