GROWING and SHOWING and LOVING IT!

Biography of Peter J. Welcenbach of Calumet Hill Farm,

11102 W. Calumet Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53224-3109 USA Phone 1-414-354-7859

Peter J. Welcenbach was born August 22, 1921 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served in World War II and received the Purple Heart.  Peter graduated from Marquette University and was employed as a corporate accountant for over 50 years. He married the warm hearted Mae Athene Charlton in 1952 who insisted on having gladiolus as her floral wedding bouquet. They have been happily married for over 46 years while they raised 7 children and now 6 grandchildren.

Peter began gardening at an early age by assisting his mother to grow flowers and vegetables. He fondly remembers the cabbage sandwiches he took to school. His serious glad growing commenced in 1959 at Calumet Hill Farm where he has grown over 50,000 Glads and has hybridized over 25 varieties, many of which are being produced and sold commercially. Of special note is Of Singular Beauty a stunning white glad and Diane Therese a lovely coral one.

His friends, family and fair goers consider Peter J the Grand Master of the Wisconsin State Fair Show. He and his children have shown continually since 1964 winning numerous Grand Champions and First Place Ribbons in single spike, three spike and arrangements. He has so many ribbons from the Wisconsin State Fair that they could cover every wall at Calumet Hill Farm. In addition he has exhibited in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and more; where he has also won numerous first place awards.

Peter is a NAGC Judge and has qualified or instructed at least 28 additional judges. He has served as a judge in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio and California. He has been a member of the NAGC, The Wisconsin Glad Society, The Fox River Valley Society and The Southern Wisconsin-Northern Illinois Glad Society.

Peter served as the President of the SWNI and the Wisconsin Glad Societies, Membership Secretary of the NAGC, Editor of the SWNI Glad Society, Associate Editor of the NAGC Bulletin, International NAGC Good Will Ambassador and Correspondent. He also hosted the Northridge Mall Gladiolus Show in Milwaukee. He has traveled to many conventions and donated many corms and his time to assist in the continual propagation and interest in gladiolus. He currently is a Feature Editor of the NAGC Bulletin.

In 1991 Peter J received an award from the Wisconsin Gladiolus Society for His Dedicated Service and Leadership. In 1976 he received an award from The British Gladiolus Society. Peter has assisted people from Czechoslovakia and The Netherlands in having their varieties introduced and grown in the United States.

Even though retired, he currently supplies floral arrangements of his own design weekly for the offices of Aqua Chem and Dr. Morgenroth DDS as well as for St. Anthony Catholic Church through out the summer growing season.

Peter’s greatest contribution to glad growing has been his enthusiasm and dedication to growing and showing. He has promoted the growing of Gladiolus throughout the World as well as the United States to people of all ages and backgrounds. The list of Peter’s Gladiolus friends from around the World and the United States is of such great length that we are unable to list them in this resume but we sincerely appreciate their support and continued friendship.

Addendum: Peter J is now the recipient of the North American Gladiolus Council 2000 Gold Medal Award and has  been inducted into The International Gladiolus Hall of Fame as of January 22, 2000.

Please direct all correspondence to:

Prepared Tuesday, September 15, 1998 for the Welcenbach Family by