Emil Vandermause, 95, OF Oconto Falls, passed away on Oct. 14, 2018.
Emil was born Oct. 25, 1922, in Kewaunee County to the late Frank and Emma (Blatcsky) Vandermause. He married Gladys Kinnard on May 28, 1946, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in the Town of Lincoln.
Emil graduated from Algoma High School in 1940 and went on to attend Door/Kewaunee Normal School for two years. He taught at a one-room school, Four Corners School, north of Brussels. In 1944, he was drafted into the Army and did his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was sent overseas to the European Theater of World War II, where he joined the 10th Armored Division serving in France, Belgium and Germany. He spent two years overseas during the war.
Emil married Gladys, the love of his life, in May 1946 and went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. After graduating, Emil accepted a position teaching agriculture at Pulaski High School in Pulaski. He taught there for eight years and then accepted the position of general manager at the Pulaski Chase Cooperative. He worked in that capacity for 14 years. In 1973, he and Gladys bought their own business, purchasing Ansorge Distributing Feed Co. in Gillett, which they renamed Gillett Milling Co. Emil ran the business until his retirement in 1987.
Emil was active in the community and church, serving as a trustee on the Pulaski Village Board for nine years, president of the Wisconsin Feed Dealers Association, lector at Assumption BVM in Pulaski and member of the Knights of Columbus. He was currently a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Gillett, where he served on the finance committee and as a lector.
His interests included golfing, working in the yard and following the stock market. In their retirement years, Emil and Gladys traveled to Israel, Alaska and Europe and were part of a couples bridge club. Emil also enjoyed spirited family sheepshead games. One of the highlights of his life was the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with the Old Glory Honor Flight program in 2010.
Emil was an avid Packers and Brewers fan. He was in attendance at the Packers’ historic Ice Bowl victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field.
He loved Wisconsin fish fries and regularly ordered walleye and Door County cherry pie for dessert.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Trager, Milwaukee; six sons, Dennis (Roxanne), St. Louis, Missouri; Charles (Sheri), Austin, Texas; Mark (Jo), Appleton; Mike (Cindy), Green Bay; Steve (Deana), Gillett; John (Pattie), Green Bay. Emil is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Frank (Janice) Vandermause; two sisters, Joyce (Darold) Gilson and Laverne Lardinois; and his sisters- and brothers-in-law, Sam and Rose Marie Lefevre, Vernon (Betty) Kinnard, Dale (Rosemary) Kinnard, Lillymae Cravillion.
Emil was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years; parents; in-laws, Joseph and Lillian Kinnard; son-in-law, Dr. Marc Trager; brother, Ronald (Rita) Vandermause; sister, Doris (Louis) Beaurain; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Harold and Janie Kinnard, Lloyd Kinnard, Veronica and Roy Luedke, Joseph and Betty Kinnard, Alvin and Bernice Gigot, Jerry Cravillion, Milton Lardinois.
Family and friends may call Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, at St. John Catholic Church in Gillett from 4-8 p.m. Visitation will continue Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Gillett from 9 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Robert Ni Ni officiating. Military honors will be conducted following the Mass. Entombment will take place in the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum, town of Scott.
Gruetzmacher Funeral Home in Suring is assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.gruetzmacherfuneralhome.com.
Memorials are appreciated to St. John’s Catholic Church and Heartland Hospice. Special thanks to Katie and Bill of Heartland Hospice and the entire staff at The Cottages for their loving and compassionate care.