Joseph A. Gantner

Joseph A. Gantner, 79, Merrill, died Monday November 12, 2001 under the care of Comfort Care and Hospice Services at Community Health Care Wausau Hospital. He was born December 5, 1921, in the Town of Rietbrock, son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Schueller) Gantner. On November 6, 1945, he married Joan Murkowski at Holy Family Catholic Church, Town of Rietbrock. She survives. Joseph worked in the CCC Camps. He was employed for over thirty years at Lincoln Hills Correctional Institute as a carpenter. Joe was a true craftsman in his trade and worked on many churches and buildings in the area. He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling and making maple syrup. Survivors besides his wife Joan, Merrill; include a daughter, Darla (Steve) Thies, South Bend, Ind.; two grandchildren, Christopher Joseph Hunger, Elkhart, Ind., Julie (John) Painter, Toledo, Ohio; two great grandchildren, Christine Grace Painter and Logan Alexander Painter both of Toledo, Ohio; three brothers, Lawrence (Vera) Gantner, Wausau, Wilfred (Joyce) Gantner, Westfield, Claude (Lala) Gantner, Athens; five sisters, Germaine (Harvey) Guralski, Menasha, Caroline Witucki, Athens, Lucille Rausch, Athens, Mary Jane (James) Frieders, Wausau, and Frances (Darrel) Johnsen, Wausau. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Alphonse Gantner. The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m.,Thursday November 15, 2001, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. John Parr will preside. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. There will be a parish rosary service7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Stewart Avenue funeral home.