Obit: Zuehlke, George F. Jr. (1928 – 2016)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Zuehlke, Ziehlsdorf, Larsen, Berrey, Lenz, Timmler, Gjerdingen, Johnson, Gruenwald

Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 23 Jun 2016

Zuehlke, George F. Jr. (21 DEC 1928 – 21 JUN 2016)

GEORGE F. ZUEHLKE, JR., age 87, of Loyal, passed away at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital, in Marshfield, on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 1pm on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Christ Lutheran Church, in Marshfield, with Rev. Daryn Bahn officiating. A private burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Loyal. Pallbearers will be Tom Wepfer, Dave VonRuden, Tom Dahlby, Bruce Hadler, Brad Zepplin and Gary Weirauch. Military rites will be conducted by the Loyal American Legion Post #175. Visitation will be held at Cuddie Funeral Home, in Loyal, on Friday, June 24, 2016 from 4pm to 8pm, and again at the church, on Saturday, from 11am until time of service.

George Fredrick Zuehlke, Jr. was born on December 21, 1928 on the home farm, in Loyal, to George Sr. and Regina G. (Ziehlsdorf) Zuehlke. He was raised on the family farm and received his education in Loyal, graduating from Loyal High School in 1946. He began working at Citizens State Bank, in Loyal, as a bookkeeper/teller on October 13, 1946. George was drafted into the U.S. Army on January 5, 1951 and went to Fort Polk, Louisiana for his basic training. He was shipped overseas, where he served 6 months in Japan and then 12 months in Korea. After his honorable discharge on November 11, 1952, he returned to Loyal and continued working at Citizens State Bank. While working at the bank, George attended the American Institute of Banking for many years. He was united in marriage to Gladys M. Larsen on March 16, 1968 at Nazareth Lutheran Church, in Withee. George retired from Citizens State Bank on January 1, 1990 as its president and Chairman of the Board. He continued to serve on the banks board until 2000.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenwood until its closing, and then became a member of Christ Lutheran Church, in Marshfield. He was a member of the Loyal American Legion Post #175, where he served on the drill squad and was a past post commander. George was also one of the original organizers of the Loyal Corn Festival, and was a member of the Loyal Rotary Club.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Gladys, of Loyal; three children: Traci Berrey of Cottage Grove, MN, and her children, Jonathan and Samuel, George F. Zuehlke, III of Wisconsin Rapids, and his children, Jesse and Emily, Kristi (Mike) Lenz of Bloomington, MN, and her children, Harry and Arthur; two sisters-in-law: Sylvia Timmler of Milwaukee and Mary Gjerdingen of Plainview, MN; one brother-in-law: Ken (Terry) Larsen of Schofield; two nephews: Rick (Cathy) Johnson, Terry (Merene) Johnson; one niece: Cheryl (Rev. Daniel) Gruenwald; cousins and many friends.

George was preceded in death by his parents; a sister and brother-in-law: Audrey (Roy) Johnson; and one niece: Dawn Haber.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in George's name for a memorial to be established at a later date.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, of Loyal, is assisting the family with arrangements.