Obit: Gadke, Louis J. Sr. (1930 – 2015)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Gadke, Freitag, Geiger, Bauer, Rueth, Balfanz

Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 10 Oct 2015

Gadke, Louis J. Sr. (29 MAR 1930 – 4 OCT 2015)

Louis J. Gadke Sr., age 85, of Marshfield, formerly of Loyal, passed away, with his wife at his side, on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Golden Living Three Oaks in Marshfield.

Visitation will begin at 10AM followed by mass at 12 Noon on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in Loyal. The Rev. Steven Brice will officiate. Louis's pallbearers are: Kurt & Kelly Bauer, Shannon Rueth, and Ashley Gadke. Committal services will be at a later date.

Louis was born, March 29, 1930, in Thorp, the son of Henry Gadke Sr. and Elizabeth (Freitag) Gadke. He attended the Peterson School until March 1941 when his family moved to Marshfield where he attended the City View School. Louis helped area farmers, until the age of 16, when he began work for the Marshfield Brick and Tile Company until 1952. He then worked at Rollohome, and also began his love of farming.

He was united in marriage to Laurelda (Tremmel) on November 26, 1949 at St. John's Catholic Church in Marshfield. Together they farmed and raised their family near Loyal in 1957. Louis and Laurelda celebrated 65 wonderful years of marriage in 2014.

Louis was a member of Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in Loyal. In his spare time he was a bricklayer and a carpenter. Through his life, he enjoyed playing cards, dancing at polka festivals, singing with the Czech Singers, and entertaining family and friends with the accordion. Louis also played "Santa" for many a Polka Jam.

Survivors include his wife, Laurelda; his four children: Louis (Mima) Gadke Jr. of Corby, England, Kerris (Sharon Geiger) Gadke, Christopher Gadke, and Marilyn (John) Bauer all of Loyal; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Stacey Gadke and her son Daniel Grant of Corby, England; Ashley (Ashley) Gadke and their daughter Londyn of Madison; Kurt (Kelly) Bauer of Greenwood and their children: Kacie, Haley and Cheyenne; Shannon (P.J.) Rueth of Chili and their children: Gauge & Cameren. Louis is further survived by his sister Dorothy Balfanz of Naperville, Illinois.

Louis was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Marion Frances (Joyce) and infant son Fredrick James, six sisters and six brothers.

Arrangements by Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer.

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