Gerald Earl Dahlke

Gerald “Jerry” Earl Dahlke, 74, of La Crosse, died at home on Tuesday, January 6, 2015. He was born on March 5, 1940 in rural Chaseburg to Robert and Esther (Krachel) Dahlke. Jerry worked for 18 years as an MTU bus driver for the city of La Crosse, retiring in 1995. He loved to PUTZ with anything and could fix almost anything. His garage and fixing cars was a passion of his in his younger years. He enjoyed family vacations “Up North” with friends and family. He shared his love of fishing with his daughters; sons-in-law and grandchildren at the cabin. He also enjoyed and looked forward to watching the Brewers and Packer games. He was hoping for a Packer win this coming weekend. Jerry also enjoyed his grand dogs by spoiling them with many treats as well as feeding and watching his outdoor friends-the squirrels, bunnies and birds. He was a long time member of Mount Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church where the last pew was reserved for him.
Jerry was the beloved husband of Lucile (Miller) Dahlke for 52 years, loving father of Sheila (Michael) Wolf of La Crosse, Debra (Rod) Knutson of La Crosse, and Karla (Andy) Venell of Edina, MN. He will be sadly missed by his seven grandchildren, Melissa (Steve) Schulze, Janell (Deke) Mader, Morgan and Taylor Knutson, Simon, Jordan and Alena Venell, as well as three great grandchildren, Adalyn and Hudson Schulze and Sidney Mader. He is also survived by his brothers, Duwayne (Dagny) Dahlke, Richard (Janet) Dahlke and Robert (Sally) Dahlke, his brothers –in-law Jerry (Sharon) Miller and Ardie Stoltenberg, sisters-in-law Beverly Miller and Rosemarie (Jamie Ortiz) Murphy, and uncle Jer to several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Patricia “Trish” Stoltenberg.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015 at 11:30 AM at Mount Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church. Pastor Robert Wassermann will officiate. Private committal services will be held in the Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Mount Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church or Gundersen Medical Foundation for lung and diabetes research.