Gerald Else Obituary

Watertown, WI - Gerald "Jerry" Carl Else, 88, of Watertown, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025 at Park Ridge Assisted Living Center.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Watertown with Rev. Brett Brauer and Rev. Dustin Yahnke officiating. Relatives and friends may gather at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial, with military honors, will follow at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Ixonia. Memorials, if desired, may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or a memorial of their choosing. Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Watertown is serving the family. Online condolences may be left at www.HafemeisterFH.com.

He was born on July 23, 1937 to the late Harold and Margaret (nee Winter) Else. He attended St. Paul's Lutheran School in Ixonia where he was confirmed on March 18, 1951. He then attended Watertown High School graduating in 1955. He was a volunteer for the Ixonia Fire Dept. and Ixonia EMS. Jerry was a charter member of the Ixonia Lions Club.

His dad owned the Else Oil Co. where he was an employee delivering gas and fuel oil to customers as well as driving the semi. Jerry served his country in the U.S. Army in Korea.

On October 4, 1959 he married Audrey Butschke at Dr. Martin Luther Church in Oconomowoc. They were blessed with four children Russell, Renee, Rick, and Ross.

He drove semi safely without a major accident for 60 years for Else Oil Co., Carnation Co., Eau Claire Dairy, Nick Counsell Trucking, and Counsell Trucking of Ixonia. His driving ended in 2015 when he retired.

In his earlier years he enjoyed spending time in Clam Lake with family and friends musky fishing and snowmobiling. Jerry also enjoyed the Green Bay Packers attending games with his season tickets and also liked playing Sheepshead. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he loved to hear about his Lord and Savior.

He is survived by his wife Audrey Else; daughter, Renee (Pastor David) Reichel; son, Pastor Ross (Maria) Else; 11 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Lauri (John) Lettner and sister-in-law, Sandra Else; as well as nieces, other relatives and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his two sons Russell and Rick; parents, Harold and Margaret Else; parents-in-law, Alex and Eleanor Butschke; one brother, John Else; grandson, Nathanael Reichel.