Walter "Bubba" Gaines Jr of Wausau, 66, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 12, 2022, after many years of battling heart issues. Bubba was born on December 12, 1955 in Lubbock, Texas to Walter Sr. and Lizzie Mae Gaines. The second of four children, from the start Bubba loved being outdoors. He enjoyed playing baseball, fishing and hunting, even hunting rattlesnakes. At 16 years of age, he started working for the State of Texas Highway Department. His employment for the highway department lasted 8 years. Bubba was always up for an adventure and he chose to move to Oklahoma City, where he worked as a greens keeper and maintenance for the school district there. Under unique circumstances, at age 34, Bubba met Rosaline. They began a long distance relationship, with Bubba in Oklahoma and Rose in Wisconsin. It did not take long for their relationship to become serious and Bubba made the move to Wausau. His career once up north was as an off-road and heavy equipment tire technician. He was employed by Goodyear and Pomps Tire until his forced retirement in 2006, due to his health. Prior to his retirement, Bubba and Rose found passion in bringing their talents together and offering the Wausau area a taste of down-home southern style cooking, when they opened Bubba's Bayou Deli and later Bubba's Country Crossroads. The pair developed quote a following with their signature dishes, such as jambalaya, gumbo and Bubba's catfish- whether blackened or southern style. For a short time the pair also ran a food truck for community events where they continued to serve up southern style dishes. Sitting still was never Bubba's style and in more recent years his love of fishing led him to open a bait shop and U-Haul dealership. Both of which he was running alongside Rose until his passing. During his adult life, Bubba thoroughly enjoyed the country life. He enjoyed raising horses and beef cattle. He would spend hours in his garage or machine shed working on his various projects, as he always had multiple going. Meeting Rose introduced Bubba to what it meant to be a father, and subsequently grandfather. Nothing made Bubba's eyes light up, like his family. Bubba would never turn down a chance to join the kids or grandkids at an event that was important to them. Bubba was preceded in death by his parents, his mother & father-in-law, Dorothy and Jacob Duberstein, one niece, Constance. He is survived by his wife, Rose of Wausau. Sisters Mary Nell Gaines and Martha Lynn Gaines Robinson (Joe) both of Oklahoma City, a brother, John Calvin Gaines of Borger, Texas, nieces Marcellina Gaines, Jamaica Drew and a nephew, Antonio Gaines. His children; Jennifer Lukes (Tom Malone), Damian Betts, Gabrielle Rojas (Julio), Anna Szymanski (Jeff), Rory Genrich (Shannon). Grandchildren include Morgan, Kaitlin and Zandria Lukes, Jilisa Betts, JadenRose (also his God-daughter) Jonathan and Reyden Betts-Rojas, Isaiah and Xavier Genrich, Nick, John, Lily and Violet Szymanski, Dayton, Dominic and Lincoln Genrich. One great-grandson, Levi Schilling, numerous in-laws and multiple generations of nieces and nephews. A celebration of Bubba's life will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2022 at the Labor Temple, 318 S 3rd Ave, Wausau, WI 54401, from 1pm-4pm. Entrance to the building is on 4th Ave. Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting famly at this time. online condolences may be expressed at MWCS.WS