Surnames: Bokath, Dassow, Gengler, Jensen, Jeppesen, Kraemer, Linzner, Lissner, Piller, Potocnik, Westphal

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, September 23, 2010, online edition

Gengler, Melva M. (Dassow) (April 6, 1921 - September 21, 2010)

Melva M. Gengler, 89, Medford, died Tuesday, Sept. 21 at Memorial Nursing and Rehab Center in Medford, where she had resided the past 13 months.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Whittlesey, with Rev. Randal Jeppesen officiating. Burial will be at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in Whittlesey. Pallbearers will be Norm Dassow, Gary Piller, Frank Linzner, Dennis Potocnik, Dave Gengler and Rick Jensen.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford, and at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

The former Melva Dassow was born April 6, 1921 in the Town of Chelsea to the late Edward and Anna Susannah (Lissner) Dassow. She attended Whittlesey Elementary school in the Town of Chelsea. She did domestic work and cared for her younger siblings after her mother's death.

On May 22, 1943 in Dorchester, she married Harold F. Gengler, who preceded her in death on January 14, 1991. They farmed in the Town of Medford for many years. While farming, she also worked at Hurd Millwork in Medford and cooked at various restaurants in the Medford area, retiring from Strama's Restaurant.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She enjoyed cooking, baking, her family garden and Sunday visits with family and friends.

Survivors include a son, Larry (Louise) of Stetsonville; a brother, Ed (Sue) of Medford; two sisters, Loretta (Henry) Kraemer of Medford and Marge (Dick) Jensen of Rib Lake; three sisters-in-law, Lorain Dassow, Kate Dassow and Catherine Dassow, all of Medford; two granddaughters, Krista Gengler of Appleton and Sheila (Leon) Westphal of Marathon; and two great-grandsons, Dustin and Dakota Bokath of Stanley.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Ronald H. Gengler in 2007; a granddaughter, Lori (Gengler) Bokath in 2005; a daughter-in-law, Cindy (Piller) Gengler in 1996; two sisters, Esther Linzner and one in infancy; and three brothers, Elmer, Oscar and Lawrence.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.