Obit: Ganther, William Floyd (1947 - 2021)

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

Surnames: Ganther, Franke, Burleigh, Zvolena, Zimmerman, Brekke, Elmhorst, Crothers, Schoolman

----Source: Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/16/2021

Ganther, William Floyd (23 September 1947 – 12 March 2021)

Our beloved William “Bill” Ganther passed away peacefully on March 12, 2021 at House of the Dove in Marshfield.

Bill was born on September 23, 1947 to Clarence and Letha Ganther. He grew up on their family farm with his brother Lee and his sister Margo. In 1966, he graduated from Granton High School, and, thereafter, continued to work on the family farm. In 1970 Bill met the woman he would spend his life loving, Linda (Franke), and they were married in 1974. Bill and Linda were blessed with five children (Christian, Shawn, Preston, Holly, Kimberly) and a grandchild (Kylie).

Even amidst his time as a devoted husband, father, and farmer, Bill still found time for his community. A baptized member of Zion American Lutheran Church in Granton, he served on the church council, sang in the choir, and played on the church dartball team. Bill also found time to guide children as a 4-H leader, and carouse with other outdoorsmen and women as a member of the Clark County Sportsman Club.

Bill shared his love of hunting, fishing, and hiking with his children by taking them on long hikes in the woods and gently reminding them to watch their bobbers. He also taught his children to dream, and he never failed to fuel their imaginations. He was a skilled woodworker not only in furniture and cabinetry but where it is remembered most, his wooden toys. Often at his own expense, Bill found himself to be on the receiving end of swinging swords and darting arrows. Bill loved and cherished his time with his family, but equally adored his time spent behind the wheel of his tractor. He loved farming and did so until his body was no longer able to. He then leaned on his passion for caring for others to determine his path. Bill received his CNA license in 1993 and spent many years caring for those unable to care for themselves. Thereafter, he continued looking after others by working in the custodial services of Granton Area School and the Clark County Courthouse. Bill retired from Clark County in 2018.

After retirement, Bill spent many happy days sitting next to the lake watching the sun dancing across the water as his loved ones played within. He loved to dance, smile and laugh. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and the Minnesota Twins. He found joy sitting around a campfire, and gardening; however, he was the happiest with a fishing pole in his hands and his family and friends nearby.

Bill is preceded in death by his mother Letha and father Clarence, his mother and father-in-law Alma and Kenneth Franke, and his children Christian, Preston, and Holly.

He is survived by his wife Linda, his brother Lee Ganther (Cheryl), his sister Margo Burleigh (Scott), his children Shawn and Kimberly Ganther (Joshua Zvolena), his granddaughter Kylie, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Bill touched many lives while with us on this earth and will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Due to COVID-19, a private service will be held Friday, March 19 at 11:00 A.M. at Zion American Lutheran Church in Granton. A livestream of the service can be viewed online at https://www.geschefh.com/

Pallbearers: Shawn Ganther, Joshua Zvolena, Pastor Dan Zimmerman, and Tim Brekke. Honorary pallbearers: Scott Burleigh, Tom Elmhorst, Mark Crothers, Bruce Crothers, Gerald Ganther, and Tom Schoolman.

A Go Fund Me fundraiser has been created to assist the family with Bill’s medical and funeral expenses. https://gofund.me/3ca6343b

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Bill’s family with Funeral arrangements.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of William Floyd Ganther, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.