Obit: Gaetz, Ralph L. #2 (1933 - 2008)
Poster: R. Lipprandt
Email: rloss@bellsouth.net

Surnames: Bowe, Brown, Clintsman, Delo, Gaetz, Hamus, Hausman, Kuehling, Laper, Mueller, Pozorski, Schoelzel, Tarras, Wolfe

Source: The Tribune Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI), Volume 48, No. 14, April 2, 2008, Page 16

Gaetz, Ralph L. (29 Jan 1933 - 28 Mar 2008

Ralph L. Gaetz, age 75, rural Spencer, passed away Friday, March 28, 2008 at St. Joseph Hospital, Marshfield, of a heart attack. He had courageously battled lung cancer for 2-1/2 years.

Ralph was born January 29, 1933 in the town of Unity to William and Myrtle (Brown) Gaetz. He was the eldest of six children and attended the Riplinger and Unity Schools. Ralph worked for the cheese factory and later at the Box Factory both in Riplinger. He moved to Milwaukee for a year and worked at the Chain Belt Foundry there. On April 9, 1953, he went into the army and was honorably discharged on April 5, 1955. He served 13 months in Korea.

Ralph married Audris (Schoelzel) Wolfe on December 22, 1956. He then worked at Mandels Cheese Factory in Unity making cheese and hauling can milk. In 1966 Ralph and Audris purchased the homestead farm from his parents and continued farming until retirement in 1997. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 358 of Unity and was serving as commander. Ralph was a town board supervisor for the town of Unity for many years.

He was a past president of St. John’s Lutheran Church Riplinger. Ralph and Audris celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2006.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Audris Gaetz of Spencer; his seven children, Nancy (Rodney) Delo, Loyal, Cindy (Larry) Bowe, Loyal, Steve Gaetz, Spencer, Sharon (Larry) Hamus, Spencer, Karen (Andrew) Mueller, Loyal, Michael (Melissa) Gaetz, Spencer, Kathi (Keith) Pozorski, Marathon; 14 grandchildren, Joel and Amber Delo, Ashley (Dave, Jr) Clintsman, Melissa (fiancé Michael Delo) Gaetz, Travis (fiancé Amanda Hill) Gaetz, Jessica and Jenna Hamus, Jordan and Tyler Mueller, Nathan Bowe, Tanner and Erica Gaetz, Katie and Kyle Pozorski; great-granddaughter, Alyssa Clintsman; brother, Dave (Mary) Gaetz; four sisters, Janice (Darnell) Schoelzel, Carol (Dennis) Kuehling, Mary (Ronald) Hausman and Joanne (Kenneth) Laper.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a daughter-in-law, Lynn Gaetz. Visitation is Monday, March 31, 2008, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Maurina/Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford, and one hour before services at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Riplinger

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Riplinger. Pastor Rebekah Tarras will preside. Burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Riplinger. Pallbearers are his grandsons, Joel Delo, Travis Gaetz, Jordan and Tyler Mueller, Nathan Bowe, Tanner Gaetz and Kyle Pozorski.

Paid obituary 14-81346