Elmer Herman Gehrt, 96, of Shawano, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday morning, Dec. 20, 2012, at Peabody Manor in Appleton, while looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.
Elmer was born July 31, 1916, in Embarrass, a son of the late Otto and Minnie (Tegtmeyer) Gehrt. He attended the Embarrass Graded Normal School. As a boy he loved working with his father in his construction business and helping his uncle and cousins on their family farm across the road. He spent countless happy hours with his cousins swimming in the river, fishing, ice skating and sledding. He spoke often of the fond memories growing up in Embarrass and the close knit community that always pulled together even through the hard years of the Depression. His love of music and dancing developed during these years and continued for his whole life. He especially enjoyed music and dancing at the Rustic at Clover Leaf Lakes, where his father had installed the dance floor, and standing room only for Louis Armstrong at the Riverside in Green Bay.
Elmer worked at the Town Line Cheese Factory south of Clintonville, and during World War II built truck cabs for the military at the Four Wheel Drive. On Sept. 26, 1941, Elmer was united in marriage to Ione Schenk at St. James Lutheran Church. The couple lived their entire married life in Shawano, where they raised their only son, Jerry. Dancing was a love of both of them, and there was scarcely a dance hall from Wausau to Green Bay to Chicago that he and Ione didn't dance in. They were a delight to watch glide across the floor.
After the war, Elmer worked at Montgomery Wards for over 33 years, as an assistant store manager and as manager of the furniture and floor covering department. He also installed some of the floor coverings he sold in the community, a business that he continued for many years following his retirement from Wards in 1978.
He belonged to St. James for his entire adult life, and was very active in his church and in his faith. He was an usher on Sundays for over 35 years, volunteered at the church food stand at the county fair for over 50 years, helped tally donations from Sunday offerings, and traveled to various camps to volunteer for building and maintenance projects for church youth, Boy Scouts and visually handicapped youngsters. He was always willing to give of himself and his time to help others.
This giving and gentle nature extended to his charter membership in the Shawano Lions Club. He gave of his time in fundraising efforts for the club in selling roses and light bulbs, and dearly loved the annual golf outing and steak fry where he manned the grill and served up steaks done to order like a pro. He held a special place in his heart for the Lions' work with Leader Dogs for the Blind, and visited the camp they support in Rosholt on several occasions. Memorials for Elmer should be directed to this organization.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings (four brothers and four sisters), and his wife, Ione.
He is survived by his only son, Gerald R. (Melody) Gehrt, of Kaukauna; four grandchildren, Kevin Joel (Joanne) Gehrt, of Oshkosh, Robyn Ann (Brad) Holstein, of Oshkosh, Timothy Alan (Bridget) Gehrt, of Fond du Lac, and Jared Christopher Gehrt (special friend Samantha), of Kaukauna; four great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Adele Abbott, of Madison; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
His beautiful blue eyes and loving smile that could light up a room will be sorely missed.
Funeral services for Elmer Gehrt will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Schroeder-Mickelson Funeral Service of Shawano. Pastor Ted Andrada will officiate. Interment will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery of Shawano. Relatives and friends may call at Schroeder-Mickelson Funeral Service on Thursday from 11 a.m. until the hour of service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, the family has requested memorials in his name for the Lions Leader Dog for the Blind Program.
Elmer Herman Gehrt, 96, of Shawano, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday morning, Dec. 20, 2012, at Peabody Manor in Appleton, while looking forward to spending Christmas with his family.
Elmer was born July 31, 1916, in Embarrass, a son of the late Otto and Minnie (Tegtmeyer) Gehrt. He attended the Embarrass Graded Normal School. As a boy he loved working with his father in his construction business and helping his uncle and cousins on their family farm across the road. He spent countless happy hours with his cousins swimming in the river, fishing, ice skating and sledding. He spoke often of the fond memories growing up in Embarrass and the close knit community that always pulled together even through the hard years of the Depression. His love of music and dancing developed during these years and continued for his whole life. He especially enjoyed music and dancing at the Rustic at Clover Leaf Lakes, where his father had installed the dance floor, and standing room only for Louis Armstrong at the Riverside in Green Bay.
Elmer worked at the Town Line Cheese Factory south of Clintonville, and during World War II built truck cabs for the military at the Four Wheel Drive. On Sept. 26, 1941, Elmer was united in marriage to Ione Schenk at St. James Lutheran Church. The couple lived their entire married life in Shawano, where they raised their only son, Jerry. Dancing was a love of both of them, and there was scarcely a dance hall from Wausau to Green Bay to Chicago that he and Ione didn't dance in. They were a delight to watch glide across the floor.
After the war, Elmer worked at Montgomery Wards for over 33 years, as an assistant store manager and as manager of the furniture and floor covering department. He also installed some of the floor coverings he sold in the community, a business that he continued for many years following his retirement from Wards in 1978.
He belonged to St. James for his entire adult life, and was very active in his church and in his faith. He was an usher on Sundays for over 35 years, volunteered at the church food stand at the county fair for over 50 years, helped tally donations from Sunday offerings, and traveled to various camps to volunteer for building and maintenance projects for church youth, Boy Scouts and visually handicapped youngsters. He was always willing to give of himself and his time to help others.
This giving and gentle nature extended to his charter membership in the Shawano Lions Club. He gave of his time in fundraising efforts for the club in selling roses and light bulbs, and dearly loved the annual golf outing and steak fry where he manned the grill and served up steaks done to order like a pro. He held a special place in his heart for the Lions' work with Leader Dogs for the Blind, and visited the camp they support in Rosholt on several occasions. Memorials for Elmer should be directed to this organization.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings (four brothers and four sisters), and his wife, Ione.
He is survived by his only son, Gerald R. (Melody) Gehrt, of Kaukauna; four grandchildren, Kevin Joel (Joanne) Gehrt, of Oshkosh, Robyn Ann (Brad) Holstein, of Oshkosh, Timothy Alan (Bridget) Gehrt, of Fond du Lac, and Jared Christopher Gehrt (special friend Samantha), of Kaukauna; four great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Adele Abbott, of Madison; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
His beautiful blue eyes and loving smile that could light up a room will be sorely missed.
Funeral services for Elmer Gehrt will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Schroeder-Mickelson Funeral Service of Shawano. Pastor Ted Andrada will officiate. Interment will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery of Shawano. Relatives and friends may call at Schroeder-Mickelson Funeral Service on Thursday from 11 a.m. until the hour of service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, the family has requested memorials in his name for the Lions Leader Dog for the Blind Program.
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