Milton "Hank" Donald Gehrman, 76, was born October 9, 1928 in Turtle Lake, the son of Albert and Minnie (Bentz) Gehrman.
He served in the United States Navy during the Operation Crossroads Atomic Bomb Test from October 17, 1945 to September 30, 1949. After returning to civilian life, he married Shirley Luhman in 1951. He worked in the repair shop for Chicago Northwestern Railroad in Como Park for a year.
Hank and Shirley then purchased a house and small barn with 24 acres in Deer Park for the price of $3,250. Part of that land eventually became the Deer Park Park and ball diamond.
He worked for Andersen Corporation from 1953 to 1958 before purchasing a milk route and hauled cans for two years. That route was then sold to Bob Siegert. An 80-acre farm was purchased in Polk County in 1965. The farm included 24 cows, five calves, all machinery (including two tractors) for $22,500.
Hank was then employed by Frank Harmon Construction. He did excavating for several years. He also spent a short time working for the St. Croix County Highway Department.
Throughout those years six children were born. The farm was sold to son Keith in 1983 and a new home was built in Cylon just out of Deer Park. During the years after selling the farm, he went into private excavating with three sons, later becoming employed by several townships doing road maintenance until 2003.
His life and love was truly in operating road graders until accepting retirement. Hank died at Amery Regional Medical Center on Sunday, November 14, 2004.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Ivan, Edgar, Albert and Donald.
Left to mourn are his wife, Shirley; sons, Gary (Nancy Graham) Gehrman, Bruce (Kathleen) Gehrman, Paul (Bonnie) Gehrman, Keith (Laura) Gehrman, Dean (Margaret) Gehrman; daughter, Sally (Bill) Faughn; brothers, Lyle and Norman; sisters, Bertha Marquardt, June Helin, Betty McDaniel, and Jane (Gene) Moelter; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren, as well as other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 17 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Deer Park with Rev. Daniel Voth officiating. Organist was Cindy Nelson. Casketbearers were Kelsey Wingate, Jason Gehrman, Scott Gehrman, Ryan Gehrman, Cooper Gehrman and Andrew Butzler. Honorary casketbearers were Tyler Gehrman, Kurt Gehrman, Greg Roberts and Bryce Gehrman. Military honors were provided by the Clear Lake VFW. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Deer Park.
The Williamson Funeral Home of Amery assisted the family with arrangements.
(New Richmond News - Thursday, November 25, 2004)
MILTON "HANK" GEHRMAN
Services for Milton "Hank" Gehrman, 76, were Wednesday, November 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Deer Park, with the Rev. Daniel Voth officiating. Organist was Cindy Nelson.
Casketbearers were Kelsey Wingate, Jason Gehrman, Scott Gehrman, Ryan Gehrman, Cooper Gehrman and Andrew Butzler.
Honorary casketbearers were Tyler Gehrman, Kurt Gehrman, Greg Roberts and Bryce Gehrman.
Military honors were provided by the Clear Lake VFW. Interment was at the Calvary Cemetery in Deer Park, with Williamson Funeral Home of Amery assisting the family with arrangements.
Milton "Hank" Donald Gehrman was born October 9, 1928, in Turtle Lake, the son of Albert and Minnie (Bentz) Gehrman.
He served in the United States Navy during the Operation Crossroads Atomic Bomb Test.
After returning to civilian life, he married Shirley Luhman in 1951. He worked in the repair shop for Chicago Northwestern Railroad in Como Park for a year. The couple purchased a house and small barn with 24 acres in Deer Park for the price of $3,250. Part of that land eventually became the Deer Park Park and ball diamond.
He worked for Andersen Corporation from 1953 to 1958 before purchasing a milk route, hauling cans for two years. That route was then sold to Bob Siegert.
An 80 acre farm was purchased in Polk County in 1965. The farm included 24 cows, 5 calves, all machinery including two tractors for $22,500.
He was employed by Frank Harmon Construction, excavating for several years. He also spent a short time working for the St. Croix County Highway Department.
Throughout those years, six children were born.
The farm was sold to son Keith in 1983 and a new home was built in Cylon just out of Deer Park.
During the years after selling the farm, he went into private excavating with three sons, later becoming employed by several townships doing road maintenance until 2003.
He died at Amery Regional Medical Center on Sunday, Nov. 14.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Ivan, Edgar, Albert and Donald.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley; sons, Gary (Nancy Graham) Gehrman, Bruce (Kathleen) Gehrman, Paul (Bonnie) Gehrman, Keith (Laura) Gehrman and Dean (Margaret) Gehrman; daughter, Sally (Bill) Faughn; brothers, Lyle and Norman; sisters, Bertha Marquardt, June Helin, Betty McDaniel and Jane (Gene) Moelter. He also leaves 18 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
(Amery Free Press - Tuesday, November 23, 2004)
