Gary Thaler, 67, of Bristol, WI

Graveside Memorial Services will be 10 AM, Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the ZCBJ Cemetery, rural Wagner, with military honors. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements.

Gary Thomas Thaler passed away May 5, 2015 surrounded by family and friends. He was born Dec 31,1947 to Adolph and Jean Thaler at the Wagner Community Hospital. They resided in rural Dante until moving to the greater Dante metro area in 1955. He attended grade school in Dante finishing high school in Wagner in 1966. He enjoyed playing football until a knee injury took him out during his senior year. He entered the US Army in June of 1966 through 1970, working both company clerk and cook positions. Returning to US Army from 1973 to 1979 after the Dante grocery store burned that he and wife Mary opened in 1970. His army stops took him all over the world, from Vietnam and Korea abroad, to Ft Knox, Kentucky, Ft Wainwright, Alaska, and finally Ft Hood, Texas domestically, where he was discharged in 1979.

Later in Gary's life he became a pastor, founding the Christian Faith Church of Kenosha, Wisconsin. As a hospital Chaplain in the Kenosha hospital network he brought his unique blend of straightforward truth-telling, humor and mercy to many. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need throughout his life. He was very active in the VFW and Legion chapters in Wagner and Vermillion. He was also active in the Wagner ambulance services as a volunteer. Some of Gary's hobbies were: gardening, fishing, hunting, carpentry, watching sports or attending his children and grandchildren's sporting events.

One of his favorite past times was playing cards and cribbage while telling endless stories of the old military and high school days. It was rumored he could sell ice cubes to the Alaskan Eskimos while stationed in Alaska. He liked being his own boss and was always willing to "try his new adventure" as he called it. He married Mary K Cuka in 1971 in Dante SD and Cindy Oblek in Wisconsin in 2002.

Gary leaves behind 3 children, Ann (Jason) Aberson of Baltic, Jay Thaler of Sioux Falls, and as she won the debate, his favorite Jennifer Thaler of Tyndall; eight Grandchildren: Amelia Atkins, Ellizabeth Atkins, Alex Haagenson, Josiah Aberson, Rachel Aberson, Kalin Terveen, Joseph and Serena Thaler; two sisters: Alice (Gary) Doty of Dante and Betty Lou (Ray) Cihak of Lake Crystal Minnesota; and wife, Cindy (Oblak) Thaler of Bristol, WI.

Gary was preceded in death by parents Adolph and Jean Thaler, grandparents Charles and Freda Kulhavy, Albert and Mary Thaler, and numerous aunts and uncles.

Remember, death doesn't hurt us, it takes us home. ~ Pastor Gary Thaler