Wombacher grew up in Peoria, Illinois. His father, Ferdinand Wombacher (1851-1931), was an Illinois native and a dairyman. His mother, Louisa (Wurst) Wombacher (1850-1937), was also an Illinois native. Both of his parents were the children of German immigrants. Wombacher had an older brother, Joseph, and a younger brother, Ferdinand, Jr. Wombacher played for the undefeated Peoria High School football team of 1893. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Wombacher was living in Peoria and working as a chemist. In April 1953, Wombacher died in Peoria at age 76.