Gerald C. Koeller

Gerald C. Koeller, age 90, of Potosi, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 17, 2017, at Epione Pavilion Nursing Home in Cuba City. He was born on April 8, 1927, in the Koeller family farm house that he lived in for all of his life, the son of Clarence and Ruby (Retallick) Koeller. On November 16, 1949, Gerald was united in marriage to Kathleen M. Nihles at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster. They were married for 67 years. Gerald attended Sinners Creek, a one room school house, about three miles from his home. He then attended Lancaster High School where he graduated in 1944. Gerald was involved in FFA and served as the club's president for three years. He also worked on his family farm and had a job selling shoes. After high school, Gerald wanted to enlist in the United States Navy to serve our country. Instead, he decided to stay home and start his family. He enjoyed boxing and dancing during his high school years and young adulthood. Gerald always told people he graduated from the "College of Hard-Knocks." After graduating high school, he started his lifelong career as a farmer. Gerald worked many times from dawn until dusk. He was his own engineer designing and building his own equipment he needed in order to farm. Gerald loved horses, especially his horse, Prince. Reading was a favorite past time. He retired from farming in 1990. The stage of life that he loved most was his midlife because he got to enjoy his family. He and "Mother" enjoyed the company of their family and extended family. There was a lot of laughter on Sunday afternoons when the family gathered in the farm house. Many times, time was spent sitting around the kitchen table talking, laughing, and having a beer together. While enjoying company on a Sunday afternoon, you could expect to find Gerald and his family watching a Green Bay Packer's game. He was also active in the community. Gerald was a member of the Potosi Township Board, St. Andrew-Thomas Parish Council, AMPI Milk Board of Directors, and the Grant Electric Co-Op, now known as, Scenic Rivers Energy Co-Op Board of Directors for more than 30 years. During that time, he also served on the Dairyland Powers Board of Directors and as Chairman for five years. In March of 2001, Gerald was awarded with WECA's (Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association) highest honor, given annually to recognize service to the rural electric program above and beyond the routine performance of duties. In June 2016, Gerald was an honored guest at the 75th anniversary of Dairyland Power, where he received recognition for his years of service and commitment that he dearly enjoyed.

Survivors include his children: James (Kathy McCartney) Koeller; JoAnn (Bill) Williams; Donna Outlaw; Barbara Weber; Vicki Laugesen; Janet (John) Reding; Marcia (Doug) Kephart; Rita (Mike) Wehinger; John Koeller; Danny (Jill) Koeller; Karen Koeller; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; his siblings: Monroe Koeller, Leonard "Ben" Koeller and Lenice Flesch; a brother-in-law, Merlyn (Mary) Nihles; two sisters-in-law, Judy (Stanley) Henry and Delores Nihles; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Gerald was preceded in death by sons-in-law: Jerome Weber; Dennis Laugesen; and Ronald Outlaw; twin sister, Geraldine (John) Skonetch; a brother, Melvin Koeller; sisters-in-law, Mary and Rosemary Koeller; three brothers-in-law, John Flesch, Vernon (Gwen), Robert Nihles; and many members of the Nihles family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, July 21, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tennyson with Father John Meinholz officiating. Burial will be in St. Thomas Cemetery, Potosi. Family and friends may call on Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tennyson and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Potosi is serving the family.