Obit: Dankemyer, Gerald W. (1911 - 1988)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Dankemyer, Krause, Beil, Lower, Greer, Berg, Seif, Musil, Gross, Ehlers, Schaub, Opelt, Karnitz, Loos, Bierman

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/02/1988

Dankemyer, Gerald W. (9 August 1911 – 24 of May 1988)

Gerald W. Dankemyer, 76, died suddenly Tuesday evening, May 24, at his home. Rev. Herbert L. Bierman conducted funeral rites on Friday, May 27, at Christ Lutheran Church, Chili. Mrs. Iris Musil provided music. Interment was in Yolo Center, Chili. Pallbearers were Wayne Gross, Alvin “Hap” Ehlers, Tom Schaub, Rudy Opelt, Kenneth Karnitz and Harley Loos. Arrangements were made by Gesche Funeral Home.

Mr. Dankemeyer was born August 9, 1911, in Chili, to Freeman and Elsie (Krause) Dankemyer. After attending Big Four School, he graduated from McKinley High School, Marshfield, in 1929. He farmed in Chili area and worked with his father in the cheese factory. He then worked for the Chili Cheese factory for a year and Gruenke Dairy for 5 years.

On June 6, 1941, he married Esther R. Beil in Chili. They farmed in the Chili area until 1944 when they moved to Neillsville. For 22 years, he was employed by Neillsville Milk Products. In 1966, he began work with Urban Motors until 1978 when he worked for Gross Motors, retiring in 1985. For the past 9 years, he spent one month each year selling Christmas trees in Texas.

At present, he was President of the congregation at Christ Lutheran Church, Chili. An avid sports fan, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was also a member of Neillsville Fire Department and Lions Club.

Surviving are his wife, Esther; 3 daughters, Mrs. James (Paulette) Lower and Lora Dankemyer, both of Chippewa Falls, and Mrs. Pat (Margo) Greer of Shorewood; 3 sisters, Natalie Dankemyer of Wis. Rapids, Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Berg of Amarilla, Tex., and Dorothy Seif of Augusta, and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.