1918
Edward
2010
Edward Gehrke
January 31, 1918 — September 23, 2010
Edward Gehrke, 92, of Wausau passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2010 surrounded by his loving family and friends at Wausau Manor.
Edward William Gehrke was born January 31, 1918 to the late Carl and Louise (Schlei) Gehrke in the town of Easton. Edward met the love of his life, Adeline Imhoff, at the Sunrise Dance Hall. The couple was married on May 28, 1949 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish. Edward and Adeline were later blessed with the birth of their daughter, Carol. Ed’s battle with health issues over the last several years lead his doctor and friends to refer to him as a “warrior”. The reference to him as a warrior and fighter sum up his entire life. His young years were spent on a farm during the Depression, battling to make a life out of what nature and the times reluctantly gave up.
He married his “sweetheart” Adeline, and began his career as a bulldozer operator for the Marathon County Highway Dept. He was known for his ready sense of humor, and endless supply of stories and experiences, and was respected and loved by all who knew and worked with him.
Edward was not only a warrior, but an artist as well. With his bulldozer, he created and maintained many of the roads and highways that you and I drive on every day and take for granted as we go on with our lives. Edward took pride in these, his works of art, in a very humble way. Thank you Ed for making our lives and destinations easier to get to.
His family and friends will miss him dearly, especially his grandchildren, Kati, Kari and Christopher and great grandchildren, Eli and Quinn. But we are also happy that he will be reunited with Adeline, the love of his life for 60 years. The things that he created, the people whose lives he touched, the memories that he leaves will all be cherished. Ed leaves a legacy of hard work, love of family, raising the perfect garden, enjoyment of the out of doors whether it be hunting or at his cottage, and never ending ability of seeing the good side in everything.
We will miss you Ed, but we will also see you in everything that is good around us. You’ve made every one of us a better person for having know and been loved by you. Farewell from all of us, knowing that someday you’ll be there to welcome us again.
Ed is survived by his daughter, Carol (Tom) Gustafson of Wausau, three grandchildren, Christopher Gustafson of Wausau, Kati (Jose) Gustafson-Agoncillo of Holly Springs, NC, Kari (Ryan) Gaffaney of Clinton, UT, great grandchildren, Elijah Gustafson and Quinn Gaffaney, brother, Wilford (Marianne) Gehrke of Wausau, two brothers-in-law, Leonard Imhoff and Lawrence DeLisle, two sisters-in-law, Alvina Jacobi and Alice Imhoff, many extended family and dear friends, and his beloved kitties, Lucy and Tarbie. Ed was further preceded in death by two brothers, Carl and Herman and one sister, Frieda.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 27, 2010 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Wausau. Father Gerald Pehler OFM Cap will officiate. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. and last until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau. Visitation will resume on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park. You may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
Edward William Gehrke was born January 31, 1918 to the late Carl and Louise (Schlei) Gehrke in the town of Easton. Edward met the love of his life, Adeline Imhoff, at the Sunrise Dance Hall. The couple was married on May 28, 1949 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish. Edward and Adeline were later blessed with the birth of their daughter, Carol. Ed’s battle with health issues over the last several years lead his doctor and friends to refer to him as a “warrior”. The reference to him as a warrior and fighter sum up his entire life. His young years were spent on a farm during the Depression, battling to make a life out of what nature and the times reluctantly gave up.
He married his “sweetheart” Adeline, and began his career as a bulldozer operator for the Marathon County Highway Dept. He was known for his ready sense of humor, and endless supply of stories and experiences, and was respected and loved by all who knew and worked with him.
Edward was not only a warrior, but an artist as well. With his bulldozer, he created and maintained many of the roads and highways that you and I drive on every day and take for granted as we go on with our lives. Edward took pride in these, his works of art, in a very humble way. Thank you Ed for making our lives and destinations easier to get to.
His family and friends will miss him dearly, especially his grandchildren, Kati, Kari and Christopher and great grandchildren, Eli and Quinn. But we are also happy that he will be reunited with Adeline, the love of his life for 60 years. The things that he created, the people whose lives he touched, the memories that he leaves will all be cherished. Ed leaves a legacy of hard work, love of family, raising the perfect garden, enjoyment of the out of doors whether it be hunting or at his cottage, and never ending ability of seeing the good side in everything.
We will miss you Ed, but we will also see you in everything that is good around us. You’ve made every one of us a better person for having know and been loved by you. Farewell from all of us, knowing that someday you’ll be there to welcome us again.
Ed is survived by his daughter, Carol (Tom) Gustafson of Wausau, three grandchildren, Christopher Gustafson of Wausau, Kati (Jose) Gustafson-Agoncillo of Holly Springs, NC, Kari (Ryan) Gaffaney of Clinton, UT, great grandchildren, Elijah Gustafson and Quinn Gaffaney, brother, Wilford (Marianne) Gehrke of Wausau, two brothers-in-law, Leonard Imhoff and Lawrence DeLisle, two sisters-in-law, Alvina Jacobi and Alice Imhoff, many extended family and dear friends, and his beloved kitties, Lucy and Tarbie. Ed was further preceded in death by two brothers, Carl and Herman and one sister, Frieda.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 27, 2010 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Wausau. Father Gerald Pehler OFM Cap will officiate. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. and last until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Helke Funeral Home, Wausau. Visitation will resume on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park. You may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.
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