Gary W. Thatcher

Gary William Thatcher, age 83 of Knapp passed away at home on Thursday, November 10, 2022. Surrounded by his children, his hard-fought battle with cancer came to an end. Gary was the 2nd born to John Chester and Genevieve Alvina (Schroeder) Thatcher at his childhood home in Knapp on February 17th, 1939. He married Judy A Schutts on July 25th, 1959 in Menomonie, WI. To this union, three wonderful children were born: Debra, Denise and David. Gary and Judy divorced in 1971.

Gary’s life started with farm living and all the jobs necessary to keep a dairy farm going. In that work, he became a skilled mechanic and driver which in turn paved the way to his future work. After marriage, he and his family moved to Camp Lake, WI where he worked at the American Motors Corporation, building Ramblers in Kenosha, WI.

Never liking the city life, he moved back to Knapp to begin his career in operating machinery. Gary joined the Operators Union Local 139 and worked for Schoemaker-Gould out of Minnesota and Michels Construction out of Brownsville, WI laying water and sewer and gas pipelines for a large number of cities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. He eventually started his own excavating business, working for local friends and farmers. He assisted the Knapp water/sewer town maintenance man to repair and mend the system as needed. No one could outdo Gary with his ability to fix the unfixable.

Gary surely wasn’t all work and no play. He was an outdoor guy. He loved to ride snowmobile, 4-wheeler and motorcycle, hunt and fish, go Up-North to the Boars Den with his hunting party every November, experience the September Fish Boil in Port Wing, WI, raise tomatoes (they had to be Early Girls and Better Boys from Bobolink!!) and keep an eye on natures progress. He loved to get in his truck and watch the progress of local construction jobs like the rebuilding of trestles for trains, bridges on Hwy 12 and watching the Amish farm with their horses.

Gary was a hardworking, fun-loving man who loved to be productive in all ways and especially being helpful to others, making him a true servant by nature. Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Gary is survived by his children, Debra (Wayne) Lorenz-Boyceville, Denise (Scott) Brown-Knapp and David (Michelle) Thatcher-Knapp; grandchildren, Timothy (Patrice) Kegen, Corey (Brittany) Thatcher, John Thatcher, Emma (Jon) Flury, and Abby Lorenz; two great-grandchildren, Taylor Kegen and Charlie Thatcher; two sisters, Sandra Richards of Knapp and Suzanne (Jonathan) Schultz of rural Downing; sisters-in-law, Judith Thatcher of Menomonie and Kathy Thatcher of Knapp; he is further survived by nieces and nephews, Vickie (Larry) Tweed, Craig (Mary) Thatcher, Cindy (Ron) Werner, Jeff (Hsiang) Richards, John (Gayle) Richards, Melissa Schultz, Eric (Roberta) Schultz and other relatives and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his eldest brother, Ronald and younger brother Steve, brothers-in-law Ron Johnson and Donald Richards, his parents and grandparents, a nephew Ronald Schultz and other extended family members and friends.

Gary had many, many friends who loved and supported him and his family during his battle with cancer. Many thanks to you all for making his days brighter with your company and your stories of escapades together through the years! Gary will be missed by all who loved him for all of these reasons and more.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 17, 2022 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie, WI with Steve Schultz officiating with a luncheon to follow. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery, Knapp, WI.