Rene (Bud) Gehl

March 18, 1919 - Dec. 19, 2003

Rene (Bud) Gehl of Waukesha went to be with his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, Dec. 19, 2003.

He was born March 18, 1919, in New Holstein, the son of Mathias and Wilhelmina (nee Gall) Gehl.

Bud served his country as a naval officer in the Admiralty Islands during World War II. A man of great compassion, he was a defender and protector of human liberty his entire life. Bud enjoyed playing golf, bridge, his clarinet and spending time with his 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Bud is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty Gehl (nee Bruens); his five children, Mary (Randy) Vesperman of Mazomanie, Bill (Liana) Gehl of Bucharest, Romania, Anne Gehl of Pewaukee, Peg (Ralph) Joost of Elkhorn and Tom (Barb) Gehl of Brookfield; brother, John (Kathy) Gehl of Madison; his mother-in-law, Leone Bruens of Milwaukee; and his sister-in-law, Shirley Jewell and family of Hales Corners.

Preceding Bud in death were his brothers, Cornelius (Marcella) and Eugene (Barbara), and his sister, Edwina.

There will be a Mass of Christian burial at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, St. William Catholic Church, 440 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha. Visitation for Rene will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Tuesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Rolland Nelson Crossroads Hospice, 1020 E. James Drive, Hartland, WI 53029, or Rawhide Boys Ranch, E7475 Rawhide Road, New London, WI 54961-9052.

For more information, call Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home at 542-6609 or visit www.waukeshafuneralhome.com for online obituaries, directions or condolences.