Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 60 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Gerald Pettis
Gerald E. Pettis Sr., 86, of Augusta, passed away Thursday morning, March 19, 2015, surrounded by his family at the Augusta Area Nursing Home, and also in the care of St. Joseph’s Hospice.
Gerald Eugene Pettis, son of Ivan and Vada (Daniels) Pettis, was born November 7, 1928, in the Town of Bridge Creek, Eau Claire County. He attended Pride Country School and graduated from Augusta High School in 1948. Gerald was united in marriage to Doris Drehmel. During childbirth, Doris and their child passed away in May of 1953. He later married Beverly Hagedorn on July 30, 1954, and to this union their 9 children were born. The couple lived on Pettis Road just south of Augusta, until moving to the Hay Creek area of Bridge Creek Township in the late 1950’s. On November 24, 1984, he married Clara Hehl at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Augusta. During his life Gerald had farmed, worked on the road crew with Fairchild Township, hauled milk for the Augusta Dairy Maid Creamery, worked at the Augusta Farmer’s Union in the feed mill and delivering propane, worked with Bob Warner’s construction and mason crews, and also as a self-employed carpenter. Gerald and Clara had lived in the Augusta area before moving to Fall Creek, where they lived in and also managed the Fall Creek Commons. Their management of the apartments was a very enjoyable time in their life, interacting with all the residents. In the late 1990’s they moved back to their present home in Augusta.
Over the years Gerald had enjoyed playing sports in high school himself and also looked forward to following his children and grandchildren in their school related activies, especially attending football and basketball games, and wrestling matches. Some of his other favorite pastimes were hunting, fishing, dancing, traveling, attending auctions, bowling, pitching horseshoes and always taking time to visit with family and friends.
Gerald will be dearly missed by his wife, Clara of Augusta; 9 children; Deb Pettis of Pigeon Falls, Joan (Jose’) Melendez of Deer Park, Geraldine (Dale) Erdman of Augusta, Gerald Jr. (Mary ) Pettis of Augusta, Jim Pettis Sr. of Altoona, John (Theresa) Pettis of Augusta, Tammy (James) Melton of Spooner, Michael Sr. (Julie) Pettis of Mondovi Michelle (Harold) Frazee of Fairchild; 3 step children, Bobbi Donnley of Minnesota, Brenda (Scott) Nyseth of Colorado Springs, CO, John Thompson of Norfolk, VA (Cindy Schott) of Virginia Beach, VA; 17 grandchildren, 15 grandchildren, 9 step grandchildren, 16 step great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Leland (Betty) Pettis of West Allis, Ellis (Marjorie) Pettis of Augusta; 4 sisters, Lorena Berry-Ginther of Augusta, Linda (Edwin) Harmon of Austin, MN, Virginia (Dean) Schwoch of Augusta, Harriet (Daryl) Dehnke of Eau Claire; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Pettis of Austin, MN, Inez Pettis and Marcella Pettis both of Augusta; many nieces, nephews, other relative, in-laws and friends.
Gerald was also preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Vada; brothers, Clarence, James, Everett, Ivan Jr “Bill”, and Ervin Pettis; and step-grandson, John Stephan.
The family would like to thank the Augusta Nursing Home staff and St. Joseph’s Hospice for the care shown to our dad and husband.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
