Monte H. Gresens

Monte H. Gresens Monte Herbert Gresens, 68, Wausau, died Thursday, November 22, 2007 as a result of a logging accident. Monte was born August 22, 1939 in Wausau, son of the late Herbert and Leona (Ulrich) Gresens. On April 22, 1995 he married Sandra Ann Ulrich at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin. She survives. Monte was employed by Madison Metro, where he was a member of the Teamsters Local 695 for 17 years. During that time, he received awards for safe driving. He also worked for Madison Freight. Throughout the years he worked for various trucking companies including Schanno Trucking, Beaver Transport, Burish Trucking, Radtke Transit, G & R Transport and Schuld Manufacturing. In addition, he owned his own trucking company for five years. His trucking career first began with hauling milk in the late 1950's for Elgart Plautz when milk was still stored in cans. Wausau Metals and American Can Company were two manufacturing companies where he was employed during the 1960's. Monte also was a crane operator for Wausau Homes during the housing boom in the 1970's. For over 25 years Monte and his family maintained a Grade "A" Registered Holstein Dairy Farm, "Honeygrass Farms" in the town of Texas. Terraced fields on the farm were proof of Monte's belief in conservation, along with maintaining over 100 acres of forestland. Monte recently celebrated his 50th Class Reunion in August with the Wausau Senior High School Class of 1957, he never missed a reunion. Donating blood was also important to Monte. He received numerous pins for his donations over the years. For ten years he enjoyed singing with The Mannechor (Men's German Choir) in Madison, the second oldest choir of its kind in the United States. Each July he participated in the Milwaukee German Fest with this choir, singing on stage for the Sunday morning worship service at the outdoor Marcus Theater and marching in the street parade. Traveling was Monte's favorite past time. In recent years, he and his wife, Sandi, visited Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal and South America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France and most recently Spain this past spring. They also enjoyed fishing on Lake Michigan at their getaway home in Manitowoc. Monte liked collecting John Deere tractors and memorabilia. Recently he took his first lesson to be a power parachute (ultra-light) flyer. He was very proud of his grandchildren and he cherished the time he spent with them. Survivors include his wife, Sandra Ann, Wausau; children, Janean (John) Andrus and their daughter, Ashley Edelburg, Wausau, Julie (Joseph) Deverell and their children, Emily and Joseph, Viroqua, Hugh (Pam) Gresens and their sons, David and Kyle, West Salem, Faye (Paul) Zernicke and their children, Melissa (Jeremy) Hall, Meredith, Melanie and Marcus, Wausau and Karla (John) Kroll and their daughter, Karissa, Wausau; and their mother, Marjorie Raddatz, Weston; 2 great grandchildren, Andrew and Allison Hall and many other relatives and friends. Besides his parents, Monte was preceded in death by an infant sister, Hazel. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, November 26, 2007 at St. John Lutheran Church, town of Easton. The Rev. Timothy Coppersmith will officiate. Friends may call Sunday from 4-8 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 6th Street, Wausau and again on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the town of Texas volunteer responders, local EMS personnel and neighbors who assisted with Monte's rescue effort. Online condolences may be expressed at www.peterson/kraemer.com