Obit: Florence, George (1921 – 2004)
Contact: Ken Wood.

----Surnames: Florence, Berger, Gehrke, Shidell, Dimler, Maddux, Reecher

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Tues., 9 Mar. 2004

Florence, George (4 Dec. 1921 – 6 Mar. 2004)

George “Junior” Florence Jr., 82, of W540 State Highway 73, Pittsville, died at 11:50 p.m. Sat. March 6, 2004, at Memorial Home in Neillsville.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wed. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in the Town of Sherwood, Clark County, with the Rev. Thomas Hahn officiating.

Burial will be in Sherwood Cemetery, Clark County. Pallbearers will be Arnold Schwanebeck, Daniel Kane, Jim Goode, Milden Schwanebeck, Cyril Rakovek, and Gene Huth.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Buchanen Funeral Home in Pittsville and from 10 a.m. until service time Wed. at the church. Masonic services will be held at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

He was born Dec. 4, 1921, in the Town of Rock, Wood County, to George and Rose (Berger) Florence. He attended grade school in the Town of Sherwood. He enlisted in the Service Company 128th Infantry, Neillsville, part of the 32nd (Red Arrow) Division, on Oct. 8, 1940 and served until his discharge in 1945. He was bestowed many awards for distinguished service in the South Pacific. He attended Technical school at Wausau and worked for Kraft Foods Co. in Kendallville, Ind.; and Atlanta, for a short time. He then bought his brother's farm and later his father's farm in the town of Sherwood. He was married to Gloria Gehrke on Aug. 6, 1949, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Marshfield. They lived on the farm until 1983, when he retired and moved west of the farm.

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Masonic Lodge of Wisconsin Rapids, Order of the Eastern Star, Wisconsin Rapids, Scottish Rite Bodies of Consistory of Eau Claire, Lodge Council Chapter of La Crosse, Heart of Wisconsin Shrine Club, Wisconsin Rapids, Zor Shrine of Madison, American Legion of Pittsville where he was a past commander, Disabled American Veterans of Marshfield, VFW of Marshfield, and the Good Sam Camping Club.

He especially enjoyed woodworking as he made many pieces of furniture for his family and friends. He also liked to go camping, ride his bike in the Pittsville 4th of July parade, play Santa for his children and grandchildren, card playing in the Sherwood Card Club and pushing wheelchairs at the V.A. Hospital in Tomah, taking Veterans to church.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria Florence; two sons, Gary (Tammy) Florence of Wisconsin Rapids and Mark (Susan) Florence of Pittsville; one daughter, Barbara (Tom) Shidell of Schofield; two granddaughters, Rose and Tasia Florence, of Wisconsin Rapids; two grandsons, Matt and Dan Florence of Pittsville; one brother, Charles (Geraldine) Florence of Loyal; and one sister, Betty Dimler of Fremont.

He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Martha Reecher and Rose Maddux. Memorials may be given in his name to the Shriners’ Hospital.