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April 26, 1932 - June 5, 2024
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Frederick Edward Gellerup -
Frederick Edward Gellerup
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Frederick Edward Gellerup, age 92, of Wautoma passed away June 5, 2024 at Heartland House, CBRF.
Born April 26, 1932, to Dan and Leona. Raised in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, attended Campion Jesuit High in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Was a cracker‐ jack E-5 aviation electrician aboard the USS Wasp (CVA 18) in Squadron VF 194 where I worked on AD 6 Skyraiders from 1952- 1954. Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in education and taught at Wautoma High School, finding a comfortable niche in the biology department. There I met and interacted with thousands of marvelous youth and outstanding teachers and staff from 1962-1991. Served on the Waushara County Fair Board, Waushara County Board of Supervisors, Wautoma Town Board, Wild Rose and Berlin hospital boards, Habitat for Humanity, Heart of Wisconsin United Way, Montello Pigeon Racing Club, Kiwanis, VFW and many other organizations that in my advancing years I am unable to recall. As a Korean War era veteran, I was honored to take part in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in 2022 with my son Paul as my chaperone.
I was very proud of my wife Betty and am proud of my children Don (Kim), Mary (Harry) Bolich, Paul (Robyn) and Pete; grandchildren Dane, Gregory (Vivian), Elizabeth (Luke), Sophie, Samantha, Olivia, Nathan and Ryan; great-granddaughter Viviana; daughter-in-law Bonnie and her children Dillon and Stephanie. All are great kids and chips off the old block!
One son, Greg, beat me home.
Services commemorating my life will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wautoma, but I won’t be there because my body has been donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin.
A great thanks to all who enriched my life so completely. Adieu! ***
Our dad lived a simple life filled with selfless service. He worked long days as a teacher with a part-time job of tending his little hobby farm, which provided our family with a bounty of vegetables, meat, milk, eggs and honey. Fred was practical and frugal, collecting stones and fossils, a menagerie of animals and odd treasures rather than material possessions (except for coins, an old motorcycle or two and his beloved ball caps). He was a walking dictionary and had an encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna. He taught us a love of nature, the environment, gardening, birds and animals and most importantly to not sweat the small stuff. Fred was a favorite teacher to many, a funny, quirky man, a great dad and grandpa and a friend to all.
Besides our mom Betty (Schommer) and brother Greg, he was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings Clare, Dan and Lucy (James) Stoehr.
Since his body unfortunately was not accepted for scientific research (the only time Fred ever failed science), we think the next best thing is to have him planted as a tree on his beloved farm.
We’d like to thank ThedaCare Wild Rose/Wautoma, ThedaCare Hospice and Heartland House for care of our dad.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on July 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wautoma with Father William Evans officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. Friday until the time of services at the church. Inurnment will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Calvary Cemetery, Wautoma.
Stahl Funeral and Cremation Services are assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit, www.stahlfuneralhome.com to share your online condolences with Fred’s family.
Born April 26, 1932, to Dan and Leona. Raised in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, attended Campion Jesuit High in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Was a cracker‐ jack E-5 aviation electrician aboard the USS Wasp (CVA 18) in Squadron VF 194 where I worked on AD 6 Skyraiders from 1952- 1954. Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in education and taught at Wautoma High School, finding a comfortable niche in the biology department. There I met and interacted with thousands of marvelous youth and outstanding teachers and staff from 1962-1991. Served on the Waushara County Fair Board, Waushara County Board of Supervisors, Wautoma Town Board, Wild Rose and Berlin hospital boards, Habitat for Humanity, Heart of Wisconsin United Way, Montello Pigeon Racing Club, Kiwanis, VFW and many other organizations that in my advancing years I am unable to recall. As a Korean War era veteran, I was honored to take part in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in 2022 with my son Paul as my chaperone.
I was very proud of my wife Betty and am proud of my children Don (Kim), Mary (Harry) Bolich, Paul (Robyn) and Pete; grandchildren Dane, Gregory (Vivian), Elizabeth (Luke), Sophie, Samantha, Olivia, Nathan and Ryan; great-granddaughter Viviana; daughter-in-law Bonnie and her children Dillon and Stephanie. All are great kids and chips off the old block!
One son, Greg, beat me home.
Services commemorating my life will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wautoma, but I won’t be there because my body has been donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin.
A great thanks to all who enriched my life so completely. Adieu! ***
Our dad lived a simple life filled with selfless service. He worked long days as a teacher with a part-time job of tending his little hobby farm, which provided our family with a bounty of vegetables, meat, milk, eggs and honey. Fred was practical and frugal, collecting stones and fossils, a menagerie of animals and odd treasures rather than material possessions (except for coins, an old motorcycle or two and his beloved ball caps). He was a walking dictionary and had an encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna. He taught us a love of nature, the environment, gardening, birds and animals and most importantly to not sweat the small stuff. Fred was a favorite teacher to many, a funny, quirky man, a great dad and grandpa and a friend to all.
Besides our mom Betty (Schommer) and brother Greg, he was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings Clare, Dan and Lucy (James) Stoehr.
Since his body unfortunately was not accepted for scientific research (the only time Fred ever failed science), we think the next best thing is to have him planted as a tree on his beloved farm.
We’d like to thank ThedaCare Wild Rose/Wautoma, ThedaCare Hospice and Heartland House for care of our dad.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on July 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wautoma with Father William Evans officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. Friday until the time of services at the church. Inurnment will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Calvary Cemetery, Wautoma.
Stahl Funeral and Cremation Services are assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit, www.stahlfuneralhome.com to share your online condolences with Fred’s family.