Obit:  Gaulke, Dr. Wayne G. (1932 - 2010)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Aonteya, Evensen, Gaulke, Groth, Leonard, Micolichek, Romberg, Stoer, Stroobants, Zillgitt

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin) Wednesday, November 3, 2010, page 15

Gaulke, Dr. Wayne G. (March 27, 1932 - October ?, 2010)

Dr. Wayne G. Gaulke, beloved Veterinarian, went to eternal life welcomed by our Lord and many animal friends.

Walter and Bertha (Groth) Gaulke had the pleasure of their baby boy born March 27, 1932 in Rio Creek, WI. Wayne spent happy years at Rio Creek grade school and Algoma High School, having fun with many friends. Then he attended UWGB and River Falls University for pre-med. He was one of two students from Wisconsin accepted into Kansas State University Veterinary School. His medical practice started in Cumberland, WI, later at Black Creek, followed at Colby, WI for 20 years.

After that he practiced in Wrightstown, WI working on dairy farms and later specializing in the care of small animals. His professional memberships include the honorary roll in the American Veterinary Medical Association, Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association Lifetime Member, and Northeastern Wisconsin Veterinary Association Member. He was a member of the Society for the preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.

He is a past church councilman and elder at Christ Lutheran Church, Denmark, and a past councilman at Zion Lutheran Church at Colby. Music was a highlight of Wayne’s life as he shared his talents by singing at funerals, weddings, and playing in the Polka Dots Orchestra in Rio Creek.

He touched our hearts by his poetry and songs, dedicating a special song for each grandchild and other special people. For many years, he was a volunteer for the Brown County PALS program, receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1987 from Brown County Human Services. He shared his love for education as a Howe Helper at Howe School in Green Bay for ten years and one year as a volunteer in Denmark Schools. Outdoors was a favorite place for him to spend time hunting and fishing. He was a proud member of the National Rifle Association and the Ox Bow Hunting Club at Hilbert, WI.

He loved to hunt deer with his sons, Greg and Glenn, later joined by grandchildren, Elliott, Heidi, and Kayla. His sons are coaches and he loved attending their games and sporting events of the family. Several trips out to South Dakota for pheasant hunting with Greg were fond memories for him as well as turkey hunting in Wisconsin with Glenn. The LoWaLaTeSaJeJo boat was a special adventure for him on Lake Michigan and the Bay. Often you could find him reminiscing about life at Rio Creek at his parents’ tavern and sharing colorful stories.

He and Loma had a "blast on trips" wherever they went, in the Caribbean or elsewhere. During his stressful suffering of brain cancer he set a fine example of faith and hope for his survivors, his wife, Loma K. Gaulke, sons, Greg of River Falls, and Glenn (Jane) of Belmont, Family Friends, Wendy Zillgitt of River Falls and Betty, Aonteya and Calob Micolichek of Green Bay, Grandchildren, Erin Leonard (Justin) of Cazenovia, WI, Elliott Gaulke, and Eden Gaulke of Belmont, Heidi Gaulke of Minneapolis, Kayla Gaulke of River Falls, his Sister, Pearl Stroobants of Green Bay and brother, Wallace Gaulke (Joann) of Marshfield, WI, sister-in-law, Sharon Evensen of Appleton, WI, beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and two fur friends, Jessie and Jock, his buddies. His parents and grandparents, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ken and Helen Stoer, his brothers-in-law, Walden Stroobants and Bob Evensen preceded him in death.

Family and friends may call Sunday, October 31, 2010, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Knutson-Cotter Funeral Home, 536 Cty R, Denmark, where there will be Sharing of Memories at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the procession leaves for Christ Ev. Lutheran Church, 503 Grand Ave., Denmark. Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday at church, with the Rev. Robert Romberg officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Algoma. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. It is the sincere wish of the family that there are no flowers given, but a remembrance given to the American Cancer Society, Bay Area Humane Society, or the Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary, 2065 Holmgren Way, Green Bay, WI 54304.

Many thanks are sent to his caregivers at Bellin Health, Unity Hospice and to wonderful people who remembered the family with kind thoughts and wishes.