Gary Markhardt

Gary A. Markhardt, age 66 of rural Barneveld died early Thursday morning, April 29, 2010 at the HospiceCare center in Fitchburg after he toughly fought a 4-year battle with cancer. He was born on October 22, 1943 in Fall River, Wisconsin to Arnold & Lela (Raether) Markhardt. He grew up in Fall River, and graduated from the Fall River High School in 1961. He went to the Madison Area Technical College where he met his future wife Marlene. He was married on August 15, 1963 in the Midvale Lutheran Church in Madison to Marlene Gabbei. He worked for A J Sweet Produce Company after college, and then started working at Gabbei Meats for his father-in-law. He eventually took over the company in the early 1970's. He continued running the company, expanding it over the years, and eventually turned it over to his son, Paul, working with him until his death. In 1991 he also started farming with his son Paul, which he really enjoyed and continued to the end of his life. He was a member of the Perry Lutheran Church in Daleyville. He was active in supporting the Verona FFA program, and was a great fan of Barneveld High School basketball. He enjoyed going to many auctions. He also loved hunting, and always loved his time with his family, and especially his grandchildren. Gary is survived by his wife, Marlene of rural Barneveld; two sons, Karl (Vickie) Markhardt of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, and Paul (Melanie) Markhardt of rural Barneveld; one brother, Tony (Mary) Markhardt of Fall River, WI; three sisters, Jean (Greg) Barnett of Beaver Dam, Jenny Markhardt of Beaver Dam, and Linda (Jeff) Cunningham of Cambria; and five grandchildren, Cailynn, Noah, Dalton, Greyson, and Lela. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Kenny Markhardt of Madison who died in 2005. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 12:30 PM at the Perry Lutheran Church in Daleyville. Rev. Hans Floan of that church will officiate. Burial will be in the Perry Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call for visitation Saturday night, May 1, 2010 from 4:00 until 9:00 PM at the Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to the Jodi Lou Lung Cancer Foundation. www.jodilou.org Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.saetherfuneralhome.com.