Alfred G. Gresens

Alfred G. Gresens 89, LaCrosse, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday December 10, 2005 at Lakeview Health Center, West Salem. He was born May 23, 1916 in Marathon, son of the late Robert and Ella (Plautz) Gresens. After graduation from Marathon High School, Alfred earned a teaching degree from the Marathon County Normal School. He taught for several years at a one room school in rural Marathon County, then following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he answered his country's call to duty by enlisting in the United States Navy. Upon completion of his training at Corpus Christi, Texas, he served in the Pacific Theatre aboard the Aircraft Carrier, U.S.S. Santee. He was severely wounded and burned, but was nursed back to health after a miraculous rescue by a Navy destroyer escort. Upon his return to health and civilian life, he married Irma Marie Heise on August 31, 1946. Continuing his teacher education pursuits, he became a parochial school teacher in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. His first call to teach was to Our Saviors Lutheran School, Wausau, where he had the privilege to teach along with his younger brother, Wilmer. In 1953, he accepted a call to teach and serve as principal at Garden Homes Lutheran School, Milwaukee and then in 1960 he accepted a call to St. Matthew's Lutheran School, Appleton. He finished out his career at St. Matthew's as a teacher and principal, retiring from teaching in 1981. In his more than 40 years of teaching, he touched the lives of literally thousands of school children and their parents. He was a tough and demanding teacher who wanted each pupil to reach their fullest potential, but who cared even more about developing their Christian character and love for their Savior. The dreams he and his beloved Irma had for an active and happy retirement were dashed when she suffered from early on-set dementia. But his faith in God and his love for his wife shone through as he cared for her needs, first at their home in LaCrosse and then at LaCrosse Hillview Nursing Home, until her death in 1991. Survivors include his son, William (Kathleen) Gresens, LaCrosse, three grandchildren, Elizabeth (Thomas) Teegan, Holmen, and their children, Tommy and Jack; Nicholas (Jill) Gresens, Bloomington, Ind., and their son, Connor; and Joseph Gresens, New Orleans, La. He is further survived by his younger brother, Wilmer Gresens, Aniwa and his younger sister, Arvilla (James) Berens, Wausau, his sisters-in-law, Adelheid Baumann and Violet Gresens, brother-in-law, James Berens and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his very dear and faithful friend, Rita Heintz, LaCrosse. Besides his parents and beloved wife, Irma, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Alvin, Walter and Harry Gresens, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Emma Heise, his brothers-in-law, Martin Heise and Hilbert Baumann and sisters-in-law, Helen Gresens and Georgette Gresens. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday December 15, 2005 at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, Marathon. Rev. Jon Hadler will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery where military honors will be conducted by members of the Marathon American Legion. Friends may call on Weds. From 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Marathon, and again on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Matthew Lutheran School, Appleton. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com