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UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

•	Karen Klingelhofer (Loomis) 3/28
•	Dianne Klosterman (Philipps) 4/2

DODGEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 1961

Dodgeville, WI

Gary D. Beerkircher

1942 - 2021

Gary D. Beerkircher, age 78, peacefully passed away on February 1, 2021. He was born on December 10, 1942 in Platteville, Wisconsin, the son of the late William and Ruby (nee Butteris) Beerkircher. He married Martha Biba on May 30, 1964 at St. John's Nepomuc Catholic Church in Castle Rock Township.

He is survived by his wife, Martha; three children, Annette (Robert) Schoeberle {Edwardsville, IL}, Mark (Roseann) Beerkircher {Conroe, TX}, and Michele, {Waukesha}; seven grandchildren, Justin Schmid {Pewaukee}, John (Colleen) Schoeberle {Glen Carbon, IL}, Abigail Beerkircher {Portland, OR}, Katherine Schoeberle {Edwardsville}, Jordan Schmid {Waukesha}, Natalie Beerkircher {Edmonton, AB Canada}, and Jakob Schoeberle {Edwardsville, IL}; and one great grandchild, Aidan Schmid; one brother, Bill Beerkircher {Reedsburg}.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mozelle Gzik and Dolores Griswold; and son-in-law, Doug Schmid.

Gary grew up on farms near Dodgeville and Livingston, WI and graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1961, where he played football and baseball. In 1965, he received a degree in Mining Engineering from UW-Platteville and over the next 45 years became an internationally recognized authority in various aspects of mineral processing equipment, traveling extensively across 6 continents. Gary was a member of the local Lion's Club for many years and a long-time parishioner and supporter of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Genesee Depot. He had a true love of the outdoors including snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and time on the Biba farm with family. Gary will be remembered for his generous and patient mentoring of coworkers, family, and friends. He will be most remembered as a selfless and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

A private mass will be held followed by burial at St. Paul's Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Angel's Grace Hospice in Oconomowoc.

Gary Beerkircher - Class of 1961 DHS

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A MESSAGE FROM LARRY NELSON

After high school, Gary and I both attended UW Platteville. Gary knew exactly what he wanted to do - be a Mining Engineer. I had some vague idea I wanted to study history, which landed me in Secondary Education. At the end of the first year, about 1/3 of the engineering freshmen transferred to Secondary Education. So, I transferred to Engineering, a purely economic choice and one that surprises me to this day that a 19 year old would make. After two years on campus, and given I was financing my own education, I returned home and commuted to Platteville each day. By that time, Gary was married to Martha with children and living in a trailer on Church Street in Dodgeville. He also was working nights while carrying an engineering credit load of 18 credits a semester. We often commuted together. Seriously, I don't know when Gary slept. He graduated in 4 years. He told me once about being on the end of a rope 10,000 feet underground in a South African mine. Hell, I got uncomfortable walking on the steel of an interstate highway bridge. I shall miss his quite competence and his friendly demeanor. By the way, in my 43.5 year career in engineering and management, my study of history proved useful on many occasions.

DHS 60th REUNION

Below is a message I received from Dick Blotz.

I just talked to Richard at High Point Steak House in Ridgeway. I confirmed we are scheduled for July 24 2021. I wanted to make sure they are open and will be on that date. He said they will be. Can you send out a message for the class mates to keep that date open. I will be sending out a message in the next couple of months when this covid shit ends. Thank you! Dick Blotz