Surnames: Cross, Krueger, Bradtke, Allen, Luepke, Gunn, Schultz, Mushel, Schrader, Icke

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, 20 July 1991

Cross, John E. (5 Oct. 1914 - 18 July 1991)

Services for John E. Cross, 76, of 808 S. Drake Ave., who died early Thursday morning at his residence, will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church.

The Rev. Mark A. Krueger will officiate. Mrs. T. P. Bradtke will be the organist, and William A. Allen will be the soloist. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Mark Cross, Glen, Gary and Bruce Luepke, Gary Gunn, Vic Schultz, Eugene Mushel and Bill Schrader.

Visitation will be at Rembs/Kundinger Chapel from 4-9 p.m. today and again until 11 a.m. Sunday and then at the church from noon until service time Sunday.

He was born Oct. 5, 1914, in the town of Unity, Clark County, to John E. and Margaret (Icke) Cross Sr. He attended town of Unity schools and was a 1932 graduate of Spencer High School. He also attended the former teachers college in Neillsville and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

He married Norma E. Luepke Sept. 29, 1934, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencer. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1984.

After his education, he taught for 11 years in rural schools in Clark County. He became associated with Marshfield Book and Stationery Inc. in 1945. He was chairman of the board of corporation in 1979. He remained with the school supplier until retiring in 1985 after 40 years with the firm.

He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and United Commercial Travelers. He served on the Clark County Board of Supervisors in 1945. He was president of the Greater Marshfield Industrial Development Group, Chamber of Commerce and United Way and on the board of directors for Marshfield Development Corp. He was a member of the Marshfield Rotary Club for 29 years and was president from 1964-65, district conference chairman in 1970 and was awarded the "Service Above Self" award in 1976. He was district governor of Rotary, International, chairman of the district Resolutions Committee and a member of the Polio Plus Committee.

He was a charter member and chairman of the Ducks Unlimited Chapter in 1977-78. He was also secretary and chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and served on the Congress for 18 years. He received the "Conservationist of the Year" award from the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation in 1968 and was influential in setting up the Mead Wildlife Area and getting the state to develop the McMillan Marsh for waterfowl.

Survivors include his wife and one brother, James Cross of Marshfield. He was predeceased by his parents and one son, Roger J. Cross, who died March 10, 1955.

Memorials may be given in his name to Christ Lutheran Church or the Marshfield Medical Research Foundation.