Obituary of Harlen Zubke

Harlen William Zubke, 86, Port Edwards, died Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Edgewater Haven Nursing Home under the care of Ministry Home Care Hospice. A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 25 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Rapids. Reverend John Grohs will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of services at the church. Inurnment will take place in West Spencer Cemetery later in the day. Harlen was born on March 24, 1926 in the Township of Sherman to the late Leo and Esther (Hubert) Zubke. He is a 1944 graduate of Auburndale High School. Harlen serviced his country in the US Army from 1951-53 being stationed in Germany and in the reserves from 1953-57. He married Joan Marti on May 15, 1954, the marriage later ended in 1999. Harlen was employed by Wisconsin Power and Light for 41 years; first as a meter reader, then as a lineman and finally as a dispatcher. Harlen was a patient man and good father who valued spending time with his children and later grandchildren above all. As his children were growing up, camping was a favorite activity that later became a favorite for his grandchildren as well. Not one to sit still, Harlen was always busy with one activity or another. Sometimes it was doing electrical work, wiring barns or the homes of his children, remaining active in church by participating in the Men?s Club, bible study and ushering, or assisting with the spring clean up at Camp Luther. Retirement found Harlen engaging in a whole new group of activities;refinishing furniture, bowling, golfing and gathering donations for the annual Lowell Center golf outing. Throughout his life, he could always be found tinkering with one thing or another or off visiting with people around town. Harlen is survived by his loving children, Debra (Dean) Ascher, Jody(Mike) Scherr and Marty (Susan) Zubke; grandchildren, Jacob (fiancé,Sarah) Ascher, Lindsay Ascher, Maggie Ascher, Benjamin Zubke, Philip Zubke, Joshua Zubke, Joseph Scherr and Zachary Scherr; great-granddaughter, Sofiya Monroe; and extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his sister, Elaine Zubke. A heartfelt word of thanks goes to the nurses and staff of Edgewater Haven Nursing Home and to Ministry Home Care Hospice for their thoughtful and compassionate care of Harlen and his family.