Obit: Gantner Wilfred (1925 - 2005)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Abig, Ballschmieder, Chervenka, Draeger, Eberhardy, Frieders, Gantner, Guralski, Johnsen, Olson, Rausch, Schueller, Witucki

----Source: The Record - Review (Abbotsford, WI) 7/25/2005

Gantner Wilfred “Fritz” (29 MAY 1925 - 23 JUL 2005)

Wilfred “Fritz” Gantner 80, Westfield, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2005 at his home under the care of Hospice Services from lung cancer.

He was born May 29, 1925 in Edgar, son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Schueller) Gantner.

Wilfred married Delores Draeger, who was the mother of his children. She preceded him in death.

He then married Joyce on January 11, 1969 in Reno, Nevada. She survives.

Wilfred was a veteran of World War II and was the recipient of numerous awards and medals. Among them, a medal for the European East Theater, Ribbon with two Bronze Battles Stars, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge, Army of Occupation Medal in Germany.

Besides being wounded in Li Hrenstein Feld on April 14, 1945, he was in the Battle of The Bulge and sent into France for the battle of Rhineland, Central Europe and then headed to Germany. For his heroics, he received the Combat Infantry Badge and was honored for helping fight in France from 1944 to 1945. Wilfred was discharged from the Army in December 1946.

Besides his wife, Joyce Gantner, Westfield, survivors includes six children, Cheryl (Walter Olson) Abig, Terri (Mike Eberhardy) Gantner, Kathy (Brian) Ballschmieder, Guy & Randy Gantner all of Wausau and Steve (Ann Chervenka) Gantner, Green Bay; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; seven siblings, Germaine Guralski, Menasha, Caroline Witucki, Lucille Rausch both of Athens, Mary Jane (Jim) Frieders, Frances Johnsen, Lawrence (Vera) Gantner & Claude Gantner all of Wausau; one sister-in-law, Joan Gantner, Wausau.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant daughters, Jacquelyn & Mary Gantner, one son, Bruce Gantner, son-in-law, Larry Abig, two brothers, Alphonse & Joseph Gantner, brothers & sisters-in-law, Harvey Guralski, George Witucki, Bernard Rausch, Darrel Johnsen & Louetta Gantner.

Memorial services will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Milwaukee. Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. Saturday until the time of services at the Stewart Avenue funeral home.

Immediately following the services there will be full military honors conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8733, Mosinee. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com.