----Source: Wednesday, March 24, 2004, Clark County Press

William L. 'Bill' Gohde

William L. "Bill" Godhe, 78, of Merrillan, died Monday, March 22 at the Pine View Care Center where he resided since September.

Bill was born March 13, 1926 in Alma Township, Jackson County, to William and Katherine (Wadbillig) Gohde. He married Rosella Burlingame in Alma Center in 1953 and they divorced in 1975. He served in the U.S. Army's 32nd Rainbow Division during World War II and he also served during the Korean War. He was employed by the City of Janesville, the Jackson County Iron Mine, and he was a patrolman for the Town of Alma for over thirty-five years.

He served as the chairman of the Town of Alma for many years. He was a member of the Alma Center VFW, he served on the council of the Merrillan United Methodist Church' and he belonged to the Prime Time Club. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and also fishing, cutting wood and playing cards.

Bill is survived by four sons, Rick L. (Shirley) Gohde of Alma Center, Russell W. (Beth) Gohde of Neillsville, Raymond J. Gohde, of Merrillan, and Anthony R. (Carol) Gohde of Columbia City, Indiana; three daughters, Cindra R. (Robert) Starck Qf Idaho Falls, Idaho, Rebecca M. (Paul) Peterson of Black River Falls and Mary K. (Marlin) Mashin of Neillsville; one sister, Gladys Peters of Merrillan; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Hank, Robert and August, and by sisters Florence Ronningen and Viola Reinhart.

Funeral services for William L. "Bill" Gohde will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 26, at the Merrillan United Methodist Church with Rev. Meg Erickson officiating. Burial with military rites by the Alma Center VFW Post 8494 will be in the East Lawn Cemetery, Alma Center. Friends may call at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton, on Thursday from 5 - 8 p.m. and also one hour prior to services at the church.

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To near certainty, the individual who provided the information for the obituary was unfamiliar with the details of William Gohde's military service. The U.S. Army's 32nd Division is known as the "Red Arrow" division.