Eugene Wirz, 94, of Medford, WI, peacefully passed to join
his departed loved ones at 1:47AM on July 21, 2019, at Aspirus palliative care
in Wausau WI.. Services will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford
on August 10, 2019 with visitation beginning at 9:00 AM and church service at
11:00 AM.
Gene was born on August 11, 1924 to Swiss immigrants Eugene
and Lena (Kirchweier) Wirz in Darlington, Wisconsin. Being born into a family
of cheese makers, Gene started life at a young age working at making cheese in
his father's factory in Rice Lake, Wisconsin where he graduated with the class
of 1943. He then attended UW-River Falls and graduated in 1947 with a degree in
chemistry and math, and while there received 4 year varsity letters in
football, and 2 year letters in basketball, baseball, and tennis. After
graduating college he played semi-pro baseball for 5 years, and started his
teaching/coaching career at Stanley High School in 1948 through 1950. His
marriage to Irene Wilson took place on August 5, 1950, and from there he
started a 36 year career of teaching, counseling and coaching at Medford Senior
High School. While there he taught math for 10 years, chemistry for 16 years,
and was named Chemistry Teacher Of The Year in 1974 and 1975 by the American
Chemical Society. In 1968 he received a Masters Degree from UW-Stout in
counseling and in 1976 moved solely into guidance counseling and serving as
athletic director which he continued to do until his retirement in 1986.
Along with his passion for teaching, Gene's whole life was
spent participating in and always tied to athletics. While at Medford his
varsity coaching consisted of 10 years football, 1 year basketball, 5 years
baseball, 5 years tennis, and 3 years volleyball. After coaching ended he was a
WIAA and college official in football, basketball, baseball and track and
always had a fond memory of getting a police escort out of Gilman after a hotly
contested basketball game. Gene was also Lumberjack Conference commissioner for
25 years, and managed Tee-Hi golf course for 27 years where he was instrumental
in developing a strong junior golf program - and always had the kindness,
patience, and teaching ability that was needed for such a task. His only regret
in his golfing career was that his wife got a hole-in-one and he never did - and
one can only imagine the mileage she got out of that! In later years he was
always an active spectator at Medford athletic events, and could be found with
his good friend and former player Jim Zuleger in tow or just rolling up on his
scooter to watch - he never lost his love for watching something that he held
dear to him all his life. A plaque on the wall at the high school will attest
to this as on January 27, 1996 he was a second round inductee into the Medford
Athletic Hall Of Fame - a recognition well deserved.
Throughout his life Gene was never one to rest - although at
times he could have used more than the 10 minute nap time Irene would usually
allow him. He wore many hats in his 94 years - tugboat operator, pea cannery
worker, horse trainer, Code 5 roadie, carpenter, Neuendorf Transportation truck
driver, boy's camp counselor, diaper deliverer, Rec center owner, and turf
company co-owner. After retiring he was on the Medford School Board for 18
years, Holy Rosary Education Committee for 3 years, Stepping Stones Board of
Directors, and a volunteer for the Performing Arts Association and the Gentle
Hearts Animal Shelter. Gene was also a charter member of the Taylor County AIDS
Task Force and presented over 100 lectures on AIDS and AIDS prevention to
schools, churches, hospitals and community gatherings. One of his proudest
moments came in 2006 when the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce recognized and
honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award - once again a recognition well
deserved.
In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by
his brother Wally Wirz of Chippewa Falls WI; by his wife of 64 years Irene
(Wilson) Wirz; by his son Jim "Phred" Wirz; and by his daughter Mary
Ellen Wirz - and like her, by all the animals they both held so dearly in their
lives. Survivors include son Rich (Christie) Wirz of Medford; daughter Rita
(Dave) Strebig of Wausau; granddaughters Tessa (Nick) Schoenfuss of Omaha NE;
Kayla Wirz of Milwaukee WI; Brittany Strebig of Farmington CT; and Devan
Strebig of Arlington VA; great- grandsons Colin Schoenfuss, TJ Klein; Ressick
Klein; and numerous nieces, nephews, and all of the other friends and relatives
who are now left without him in their lives. Gene's kind heart, willingness to
help others, infectious grin and smile, and never ending wit and humor will
truly be missed by all those who knew and loved him - and especially by his
family who held him so dear to our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, any and all memorial donations will be
given in his name to Rawhide Boys Ranch and for a one time scholarship to a
Class of 2020 graduating senior scholar/athlete.
Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake has been
entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at
www.hemerfuneralservice.com.
