Gale Harrington

Gale A. Harrington, age 87, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2019. He was born in Waupaca on October 22, 1931, son of the late Perry and Winifred (Harris) Harrington. On March 31, 1951, Gale married Florence Matte in Milwaukee.

Gale served his country in the US Air Force from 1950 until his honorable discharge in 1954. He worked as a service radar mechanic. He completed his GED while in the service and continued on to serve his four-year journeyman electrician apprenticeship. Gale worked as an electrician at Bemis for 35 years until his retirement in 2004, only missing six total days of work. He was the coach and president of the Waupaca Speed Skating Club, coached little league for 12 years and played adult league baseball until the age of 72. He was lovingly known as the family “cheerleader” for all the support he gave his family. He enjoyed gardening, camping, his trips to Alaska with his wife and watching the Brewers and Packers.

Gale is survived by his wife of 68 years, Florence Harrington; daughters: Diana (Doug) Hanson, Karen Harrington and a daughter in law Cindy (Jim) Walter; nine grandchildren Jennifer (Jim) Churchill, Angela (Jeremy) Bellile, Corey (Erica) Hanson, Amanda (Tom) Darden, Kevin (Melissa) Genske, Chris (Sara) Genske, Travis (Ashlie) Hanson, Alexis Walter, Austin Walter, 16 great-grandchildren Stephanie (Kyle) Patterson, Courtney Reyna, Brayden and Hannah Bellile, Luke and Olivia Hanson, Shannon, Sabrina and Sydney Darden, Spencer and Hunter Genske, Seth and Kelsey Genske, Corynn Johnson, Trayse and Trystan Hanson, four great-great grandchildren Carmynn Reyna and Bennett, Elliott and Charlotte Patterson. Sisters-in-law Lucille Marinello and Dolores Atkeson. He is further survived by Linda Hines and Ashley (Matt) Gunderson and their children Austin and Aria as well as many nieces, nephews, many other relatives and his beloved yorkiepoo Tammy.

He was preceded in death by his son, Curtis Harrington and his four siblings.

The funeral service for Gale will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 31, 2019 at Wichmann Funeral Home (537 N. Superior St., Appleton). Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Old Glory Honor Flight in Gale’s name.