Henry “Hank” Otto Gauger

ENDEAVOR/BLUE RIVER/SEBRING, FL  -- Henry “Hank” Otto Gauger, age 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at his home in Endeavor.

Henry was born into a Lutheran faith on June 4, 1918, in Germany, the son of Franz and Lydia (Vollbrecht) Gauger. His family came to the United States in 1927 and settled in Milwaukee, but when the depression came they moved to a farm in Wonewoc.  When Henry moved to the United States he was forced to go back to first grade due to the language barrier.  When his father passed away he chose to quit school and help with the family farm and raising the family.  He was a self-taught man because he only had a seventh grade education.  Hank was proud to have served in the United States Army during WWII from 1944-1949.  As a shop foreman he instructed enlisted mechanics to repair and rebuild motorized military vehicles.  On June 30, 1965 Henry married Lucile Trumm Degenhardt in Winona, Minnesota.

Henry owned and operated Club 60 for several years in Boscobel.  He was the president of the Crawford County Tavern League.  He also worked for Ed Kramer and Sons, building bridges.  He took classes at UW-Platteville to obtain a Real Estate Broker’s license.  He then went on to be a Rural Mail Carrier for the United States Post Office.  Henry was a carrier out of Blue River and Boscobel until transferring to Endeavor in 1984; he retired in 1996 after 25 years of service. When he was 85 years old, he decided to try something new and went hang gliding; he absolutely loved it.

During retirement Henry and Lucile spent their winters in Sebring, FL; Henry enjoyed the sunshine state so much.  He was a commander for the Robert R. Shattuck Post #443, and a member of the Bower-Gunnill-Dalton VFW Post #2267.  While Henry lived in Blue River, he was a very active member of the community.  He served as the village President for two terms.  During this time he helped plan and build the shelter, food stand, fence, and dugouts for the ball park.  He also sponsored men’s and women’s softball teams.  Henry was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boscobel, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage.           

Henry is survived by his wife of 45 years, Lucile Gauger, Endeavor, and their children, Bobbi Ann (Jim) Goplin, Muscoda, David (Karen) Degenhardt, Blue River, Gary (Barb) Degenhardt, Boscobel,  Bruce Degenhardt, Blue River,  Lori (Steve) Biba, Endeavor, and Frank (Elizabeth) Gauger, Endeavor; his children from his first marriage to Mildred Feight, William (Eillen) Gauger, Arena, Rosemary Steimnetz, Baraboo, and daughter-in-law, Patsy Gauger, Boscobel; 27 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren; his brother, Kurt Gauger, Milwaukee; his sister, Freida Lawsha, Baraboo, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.  Henry was preceded in death by his parents, his son, James Gauger, an infant daughter, Patricia Gauger, a sister Eva Retzlaff, a grandson, Mike Gauger, and a granddaughter, Rhonda Parish. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 8, 2010 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in Portage, with Rev. Dick Inglett officiating.  Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8, 2010 at Blue River Cemetery, in Blue River with Military Graveside Services conducted by American Legion, Robert R. Shattuck Post #443 in Blue River.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage and on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to be designated later.

Lucile would like to thank Dr. Paul Slavik and Dr. Gerald Krumpos for their constant care of Henry.  We will all miss his GREAT sense of humor.

Our precious one has left us
A voice we loved is stilled
An empty place is in our lives
That never can be filled
God saw him getting weary
And did what seemed the best
Just came and sat beside him
And whispered---come and rest.