GALE MEARTZ
March 13, 1927 - March 23, 2022
Obituary
Gale R. Meartz - our incredibly amazing dad, Gpa , and Great Gpa, was called home to his new life in heaven on March 23, 2022 at the age of 95. He was born on March 13, 1927 to the late Carl and Martha (Fuerst) Meartz. Gale was baptized and confirmed in his Christian faith at St Matthew Lutheran Church, Appleton. After graduation from Neenah High School in 1945, Gale was drafted into the US Army where he served from 1945-47 with the Military Police in Vienna, Austria guarding General Mark W. Clark.
Gale married Marion (Schmidt) on September 12, 1952 and they shared 67 years together until her passing on August 9th, 2020. Their marriage was blessed with three daughters who enlarged the family with three sons, nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Gale worked with his parents at Meartz Grocery, Neenah, until 1965 when he became sole owner of the little neighborhood grocery store at the corner of Congress St and Laudan Blvd. For 25 years, Gale and Marion served their neighborhood. They retired from the grocery business in 1990 when larger supermarkets arrived on the scene. Gale found part-time employment delivering vehicles for N-M Ford, Bergstrom's, and Gustman's. He was never an idle person, so for the next 23 years Gale put his meat cutting and grocery skills to work at Jacob's Meat Market.
Gale enjoyed spending time with his family. He especially adored his grands and great-grands and his monthly mailings to them. He was an avid Milwaukee Brewer and Wisconsin Badger fan. Gale had a keen sense of humor and shared his corny jokes with everyone.
Gale volunteered as treasurer at the Bargain Garden Thrift Shop for 26 years. He served as an usher, dart ball player, money counter, and church officer at Trinity Lutheran and Grace Lutheran Church in Neenah. He was a staunch supporter of Christian Education and was extremely involved over the years at Fox Valley Lutheran High School.
Gale is survived by his loving daughters: Sharon (Phillip) Zuberbier, Nancy (Todd) Ninman, and Linda (Kevin) Kilsdonk; Grandchildren: Sarah (Jay) Kanaman, Jennifer Zuberbier, Daniel (Cristina) Zuberbier, Robert (Abby) Zuberbier, Eric Zuberbier, Stephanie (Christopher) Rodriguez-Ninman, Christopher (Antonella) Ninman, Heather Kilsdonk, and Jessica Kilsdonk; Great-grands: Ayden, Karson, Ethan, Riley, Mariella, Theo, Adelyn, Charlotte, Matteo, and Alejandro; His sister: Carol Wilson, nieces, nephews, and innumerable friends that he made during his 95 year journey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marion, great-granddaughter Zoey Zuberbier, siblings Carmen (Norman) Pope, Russell (Jackie) Meartz, Marion's sisters: Leona (Willis) Umland and Eunice Schmidt, and numerous other relatives.
A celebration of Gale's life, with full military honors, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday April 8th, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church 1390 Breezewood Lane in Neenah. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 9am. The service will be live streamed on the Westgor Funeral Home's Facebook page (link: https://www.facebook.com/WestgorFuneralHomes ). For those attending in person, please wear your Milwaukee Brewer or Wisconsin Badger colors or attire. Dad would be honored!
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Gale's honor for FVL's Tuition Assistance Fund.
A very special thank you to Pastor Richard Frost who nurtured Gale's faith to the very end and also shared his love of Brewer baseball. Words can't begin to express the gratitude we feel for Missy and her team at Dimensions Living-Appleton and Brittany and her staff at Moments Hospice for the outstanding kindness, care and compassion they showed Gale through the past few months. “His girls” (and guys) became an extension of our family through some very trying times. God bless you all!
“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”