Donald “Bean” Carufel 03/25/2025

Donald “Bean” Carufel, 83, of Somerset, WI went to Heaven on Tuesday, March 25. He passed away peacefully at the family farm where he was born, raised, and lived his whole life.
Bean, the youngest of 10 children, was born on June 10, 1941, to Philias and Rose (Germain) Carufel. Soon after high school, Bean took over the family farm which at that time was about 100 years old. During the 70’s and 80’s, he modernized the farm by adding many improvements including additions to the barn, building several machine sheds, and filling them with more equipment. All buildings were built mostly himself, including mixing his own concrete. He was proud of how economical he could operate a farm when you did all the work yourself. That was the root of his love for Allis Chalmers tractors. He always said, “they are the cheapest horsepower out there”. When asked how many tractors he had, if Renee was within earshot, the number was about half of what he actually had. His collection came from attending hundreds and hundreds of live auctions in the area. He always thought an auction was an opportunity to “be in the right place at the right time”. Many times, he would rush home with a pick-up load of good deals only to jump into a bigger truck or maybe hook up a trailer to get the rest of the stuff he bought that day. Sometimes he would not get back until late because he was celebrating the deals of the day at the local saloon. That is also where he would instigate loud debates which, right or wrong, he would argue to the end. He loved and accepted a good challenge. Once he was asked how many pushups he could do and the answer was,”one more than you” and then after a few more beers, he did exactly one more than the challenger.
Bean and Renee would spend many evenings playing euchre, pinochle, and 500 with many friends and neighbors. He usually insisted that the card games were at the farm because that is where he could enforce “house rules” which were only made known after the cards were dealt. He also didn’t mind keeping the card games going a little too late, even on a school night, especially if he was losing. Many dice cups were destroyed when they did not produce.
Bean and his brothers were avid deer hunters and that is all we are going to say about that. He very much enjoyed his dogs throughout the years. He would credit a German Shepherd for saving his life from a bull attack in the middle of the barnyard. After one yell, the dog attacked the bull which had Bean pinned to the ground flat on his back.
Bean was known to be rough around the edges, which softened up when the grandkids were born. If you walked in on him, you could catch him down on the floor playing with or teasing the babies until they needed to be changed or fed. He loved a good joke; like handing you a $2 dollar bill, telling you to find the hitchhiker in the crowd of guys on the back, then laugh because no one could find him (he must have gotten a ride!)
Bean was always ready to help a friend or neighbor in their time of need whether it be fixing a broken-down truck, welding some equipment, or rescuing a calf out of the river. Bean and Renee raised their family deeply rooted in faith with a strong work ethic. He was a character that will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years Renee (Weishaar), children Rick (Connie), Rob, Randy, and Donna. Grandchildren; Donald, Sarah, and John Carufel; Brian, Laura, and Andrew Smith. Siblings; Blanche and Ivah, and a whole bunch of nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by parents Philias and Rose, siblings Severe (Frenchy), Johnny (Ace), Edmond (Rocky), Eileen, Antoinette, Elizabeth, Rosie, and son-in-law Mike Smith.
Mass of Christian Burial was on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 11 am at St. Anne’s Catholic Church 140 Church Hill Road Somerset, WI.  Visitation was Wednesday, April 2, 2025 form 4-8 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 728 S Knowles Avenue New Richmond, WI and on Thursday from 10-11 am at the church.  Interment was in St. Anne’s Cemetery in Somerset, WI.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Bean’s service.