Gene Retzlaff

Gene A. Retzlaff, age 86, of Hortonville, passed away on February 10, 2021 at Care Partners of Hortonville. Gene was born on February 9, 1935, son of the late George and Evelyn (Budtke) Retzlaff. On October 6, 1956, he married Lorraine Bosin. She preceded him in death on August 23, 2000. Gene ran his own tax business in Hortonville for over 30 years and also served as the county supervisor for Outagamie County.

Gene is survived by his daughters: Joyce (Gary) Kilsdonk, Lorrie (Brian) Riehl, Rhonda (Klade) Karenke, Amy (Neil) Hubbard, Tina (Joe) Pahl; grandchildren: Aaron (Jessica) Kilsdonk, Curt (Nicole) Kilsdonk, Cory (Liz) Kilsdonk, Damian (Lorna) Riehl, Nathan (Gwen) Riehl, Holly (Shawn) Samson, Matthew Blink, Jalen (Angie) Karenke, Kyra, (Karl) Weyenberg, Shay (Jonathan) Haas, Zaven Karenke, Dylan Hubbard, Anna and Ella Pahl; great grandchildren: Lila, Janae, Sam, Elliott, baby on the way Kilsdonk, Desmond, Bryson, Brendan Riehl, Laylah Maass, Alex, Cameron, Isaac Samson, Kolby Blink, Trevyn, Kycen, Asher, Xander Karenke; siblings: Carol Longworth, Janice (Red) Suprise, Betty Manley, Roger (Bubs) Retzlaff, Peggy (Dow) Miller, Sherry Fietzer, Debra (Jim) Olesen, Susan (Tim) Bohr, Randall (Ingrid) Retzlaff, David Waterstradt; siblings-in-law: Audrey (William) Borchardt, Kenneth (Marie) Bosin, Pat Bosin, Linda Bosin, Margorie Sternhagen, Debra Emshoff and Maren Retzlaff; very special friend Lois Eaton and many, many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and grandson, Tylen Karenke; siblings and siblings-in-law: Marilyn Sawall, Richard (Cathy) Retzlaff, Sandra Retzlaff, Robert (Mary) Retzlaff, Billy Retzlaff, Barbara Waterstradt, Dale Sawall, Wendall Longworth, Lyle Fietzer, Elaine (Donald) Schroeder, Arlene Bosin, Eleanor (Jim) McKeever, Roger Bosin, Gene Bosin, Mark Sternhagen, Mike Emshoff and Gary Retzlaff.

A public visitation will be held on Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Wichmann Funeral Home (537 N. Superior St., Appleton). The service will be available via livestream on Gene’s obituary page at www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 26, 2021.

The family would like to extend a thank you to the nurses and staff at Care Partners of Hortonville, Bluestone Physicians and Heartland Hospice, especially Kimberly, for the care given to Gene. Thank you also to the Heartland Chaplain for the long talks with Joyce. The family would also like to thank Lois Eaton for coming into their lives and being a great friend to Gene. She brought so much laughter and love. “Now he can continue to dance” -The Girls