Marianne Gehrke

Marianne E. Gehrke, 84, of Wausau went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at her home under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
She was born in the town of Pine River on October 24, 1930 to the late August and Frieda (Gebhardt) Rademann. She grew up on the family dairy farm and learned the value of hardwork and always keeping active. She met the love of her life, Wilfred Gehrke, while dancing at Litza's Ballroom. They later were married on September 2, 1950, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, town of Pine River. Marianne and Wilfred made their home in Wausau while raising their four children, Sandra, Wayne and twins LaNae and Alane. She was a welder at Muskegon Piston Ring and later worked at several other jobs including Crestline Windows and LoMar Supper Club. Marianne took great pride in taking care of her family and will be remembered for her keen wit and contagious laughter. She enjoyed dancing and listening to Polka and Country music, gardening, puzzles, bird watching and taking care of her husband and family.
Survivors include her husband, Wilfred of Wausau, four children, Sandra Richardson of Node, WY, Wayne (Tama) Gehrke of Weston, twin daughters, LaNae (Kevin) Maki of Sun Prairie, Alane Flora (Bryan Berens) of Weston, seven grandchildren, Alexander (Tyler) Richardson, Malana and Jarek Gehrke, Lance (Fiance, Liz Doherty), Trevor and Paige Maki, Erin Flora (Fiance, Zachary Westberg), two great grandchildren, Chance and Gage Richardson, one sister, Florence Schmidt of Sussex, one brother, Carl (Luella) Rademann of Reno, Nevada, two step sisters, Edna Pierre and Esther Meyer of Neenah/Menasha, many nieces and nephews and Bryan's son, Tyler Berens. Marianne was further preceded in death by her son-in-law, Bruce Richardson and two sisters, Adeline Goller and Ann Krueger.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Reverend Joel Brandt will officiate. Entombment will be in the Garden of Eternal Rest Mausoleum at Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St. Wausau and at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. You may sign our family guest book at Helke.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
The family would like to acknowledge and especially thank the nurses and team of staff from Mount View Care Center, Applegate Reflections and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for their compassionate and encompassing care.







Marianne Gehrke Memorial Folder