Gary R. Effenberger, age 60 of Shawano, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, October 16, 2018, at St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston.
Gary was born March 4, 1958, to Robert and Betty (Pawlak) Effenberger in Oconto Falls. He graduated from Oconto Falls High School in 1976. On September 29, 1978 he married the former Julie Rasmussen. The couple lived in Oconto Falls for several years while Gary worked at Jim Kane Chevrolet. They moved to Shawano in 1984 with their son, Josh. Gary was first the manager, then the co-owner of Rollmann Homes, Inc. until its closing in 2011. He then retired and spent a lot of free time fishing, attending dirt track races, riding bicycles with Julie, following the Badgers, and coaching years of youth soccer with his wife. The summer of 2018, Gary and Julie coached both of their grandchildren’s soccer teams. Gary loved to spend time with his grandchildren, Emma and Levi, whom he adored. He was also the proudest father to sit in the stands for years, watching his son, Josh, flagging stock car races, including the World of Outlaws. Gary was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano.
Survivors include his loving wife of 40 years, Julie, of Shawano; his son Josh (Heather) Effenberger of Shawano; his grandchildren, Emma and Levi; his sisters, Kaye Effenberger of Oconto Falls, and Karen Fehling of Phoenix, AZ; his brother-in-law, Wayne Rasmussen of Oconto Falls; his sisters-in-law, Mary (Jeff) Goldberg of Lake St. Louis, MO, Rose Westenberger of Howard, and Ruth (John) Thielen of Racine; and his uncle, aunts, nieces, nephews, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arnold and Gloria Rasmussen; his brother-in-law, David Rasmussen; and several aunts and uncles.
A funeral service for Gary R. Effenberger will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church of Shawano. Pastor Scott Ludford will officiate. Interment will be in the Lake Drive Cemetery, Town of Wescott. Visitation will begin on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Visitation will resume at the church on Saturday morning from 10:00 AM until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers and plants, the family prefers memorials in his name.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
“A sincere thank you to the good Samaritan who stopped by to assist, the EMS personnel, and all the caring staff in the ER at St. Clare’s Hospital.”