Obit: Hirt, Les T. (1928 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Borman, Brecke, Chariton, Gruny, Gutknecht, Hemmer, Herman, Hirt, Holtz, Jakel, Juza, Kleist, Ness, Rau, Simon, Stefancin, Werner

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 4/30/2017

Hirt, Les T. (28 JUL 1928 - 27 APR 2017)

Les T. Hirt, 88, of 321 E. Allman, Medford, passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at his residence in the City of Medford under the loving care of his family and Hope Hospice.

The funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, May 1, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford, with Father Phil Juza & Deacon Joe Stefancin officiating. Interment will be in Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery, Medford.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Marcus Kleist; Eric Gutknecht; Great Grandsons Josh & Jake Rau, Riley & Carson Kleist.

Visitation will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford from 9:30 AM until the time of services at 11 AM on Monday, May 1.

Les was born on July 28, 1928, at Medford, to Louis and Clara Josephine (Gruny) Hirt. He attended Holy Rosary Catholic School, Medford and was a 1946 graduate of Medford High School. On February 18, 1950, he married Mary Lou Brecke. She preceded him in death August 14, 1998.

During high school, he worked for Peter Bootzin Feed Mill. After his education, he worked as a supervisor at Rib Lake Cheese and as a cheese grader at Wagner Cheese in Weyauwega. He and Gene Gebert owned & operated Wisconsin House of Cheese, a cheese mail order business for a period of time. In 1958, he began a career in insurance, retiring in 1990 from Les Hirt American Family Insurance Agency. Les was instrumental in building Memorial Hospital of Taylor County & recruited new doctors to come work in Medford. He also was a founding board member of the former Medford National Bank. He served as a Taylor County deputy coroner for a period of years. In 1974, he received the Medford Chamber “Man of the Year Award.”

He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford where he ushered for 65 years; 25year member of the Medford Volunteer Fire Department; Medford Catholic Knights of Columbus.

Les is survived by his children, Mary Lynn (Marc) Kleist; Jeannie (Ed) Hemmer; Carol (Pat) Chariton & Dan (Randi) Hirt, all of Medford; and Debbie (Jim) Gutknecht of Marinette; 10 grandchildren, Marcus (Kelly) Kleist; Shawna (Mike) Rau; Sarah (Rusty) Herman; Megan (Jason) Hemmer; Nicole (Dave) Holtz; Eric Gutknecht; Chelsey (Brandon) Simon; Ashley Borman; Erin & Kelli Hirt; and 13 great grandchildren.

He is also survived by siblings Joan Ness of Medford; Rita Jakel of Barron; sister-in-law: La Nae Werner of Medford.

Les is predeceased by his wife Mary Lou, his parents, Louis and Clara Josephine (Gruny) Hirt; and a sister, Patty George.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Hope Hospice of Medford.

For online condolences, please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com.
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