Leonhard W. Gehrke

Leonhard W. Gehrke, of Janesville, WI passed away on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Cedar Crest Health Center. He was 95 years old. He was born on February 27, 1929, in Little Wolf Township, Waupaca County, WI, the son of Leonhard W. F. and Anna E. (Jahnke) Gehrke. He grew up in Waupaca County and graduated from Little Wolf High School. He was a veteran of the Korean War having served in the U. S. Army from March 19, 1952 to February 26, 1954.

Leonhard married Joyce E. Crusan on October 22, 1960. They had two children, Jeffery and Julie. The family moved to Janesville when Leonhard took a job at General Motors where he worked until he retired. He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and a life-member of Kienow-Hilt V.F.W. Post # 1621. He enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing and hunting. He especially enjoyed having gone on the Vets Roll trip to Washington, DC. He especially enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Leonhard is survived by his two children; Jeffery (Kathi) Gehrke and Julie Gehrke (Marler); grandchildren, Ashley (Nick) Wehrwein, Alyssa (J.T.) Holcombe, Allison (Shelby) Gehrke, Ryanne Marler; great-grandchildren, Bentley, Beckham, Bryson, Brynlee, Aiden and Emma; sister, Henrietta Baumer as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Gehrke on May 2, 2017. He is also preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Anita, Delores and Herbert, a sister-in-law and three-brothers-in-law and two nieces.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 8, 2024 at ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 220 South Ringold Street, Janesville. Pastor Daniel Decker will officiate. Burial will follow in Milton Lawns Memorial Park with military rites by Kienow-Hilt V.F.W. Post # 1621. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday August 8th from 10 to 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Deepest gratitude to the staff of Cedar Crest and Agrace Hospice for the loving care they gave Leonhard. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.

The Gehrke family is being assisted by HENKE-CLARSON FUNEAL HOME & CREMATORY. Online condolences may be sent to www.henkeclarson.com.