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Gary Wurtinger Obituary

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Gary Wurtinger

Antigo, WI

July 29, 1941 - July 25, 2021

Gary Wurtinger Obituary

Gary Lawrence Wurtinger, of Bryant, died Sunday, July 25, 2021, at home under the loving care of his family and a wonderful LeRoyer Hospice team. He was 79 years old. He was born on July 29, 1941, at home in Antigo, a son of Edward and Marian (Kloida) Wurtinger. He married Elaine Rennpferd, the love of his life, on June 7, 1969, at Arbutus Lutheran Church in Pearson. She preceded him in death on September 17, 1987. He graduated from Antigo HIgh School in 1959. In his teenage years he worked for Rusch Brothers and Guenthner Potato's. He moved to Milwaukee where he worked at Allis Chalmers. Returning to Antigo he worked at Weinbrenner Shoe Company factory. He then enlisted in the United States Navy, attended boot camp in San Diego, California in November 1963. He served active duty as Third Class Petty Officer Optical Man during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in November 1967. Following military service he worked as maintenance foreman at the Vulcan plant in Antigo retiring in 1988. While at the Vulcan he designed and created some of the machinery used on the line. Gary was the one you went to when you needed help. If he borrowed something of yours, it came back better than when you lent it to him. He enjoyed fixing things and could take an idea from conception to building the machine needed to get the job done. The Mensa International Society approached him about becoming a member of the society in the early 1980's. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and tinkering. He was a member of the Leland-Tollefson Veterans of Foreign War Post #2653, and the Sparks-Doernenburg American Legion Post #3, both in Antigo. Survivors include two daughters, Rhonda (Ted) Clark, and Tina Knight, both of Antigo; three grandsons: Travis (Mikayla) Clark, Schofield, Brian (Ashley) Clark, Eagle River, and Jonathan Knight, Antigo; one great-grandson Oliver Clark; a sister, Cleo Adkins, Antigo; three brothers, Edward (Darlene) Wurtinger Jr., Paul (Beverly) Wurtinger, Ray (Gloria) Wurtinger all of Antigo. In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by a sister Judith Wilton; a half-brother, John Somer; a brother-in-law, Lawrence Adkins. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 30, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Bradley Funeral Home. Burial of cremains will take place in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and on Friday one hour prior to services at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers please make a donation of your preference for cancer research.

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Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Gary Wurtinger.