Gordon R. Church

Gordon Church, 89, of Aurora, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. He was born on Sept. 25, 1927 in Aurora, the son of the late Glenn and Gertrude (Cardinal) Church. Gordon attended Riverview Grade School in Aurora and graduated from Kingsford High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 410th Construction Battalion, serving from 1945-1947. Gordon worked as a Customer Service Representative at Kimberly Clark/Pentair Corp. for thirty years, retiring in 1987. He married Helen Czech on Oct. 16, 1948 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Armstrong Creek. Together the couple managed the family’s 310 acre tree farm for recreational, wildlife, and forestry purposes and raised their 10 children. Helen preceded him in death on July 29, 2012. Gordon was a snowmobile safety instructor and automobile instructor for the local 4-H programs. He served on the Aurora Town Board for 16 years and was a past board chairman. Gordon served on the Florence County Board of Supervisors for fourteen years, serving 6 years as its vice-chairman. Gordon was on the Northern Great Lakes Resource Advisory Committee from 1966-1968 and served on the Florence County Civilian Defense-Radiological Monitoring in 1962. He was a charter member of NEWCAP and served as the Florence County representative. Gordon was a Florence County Deputy Sheriff in 1972 and a charter member of the Northeastern Wisconsin regional Planning Commission. Gordon also served on the Aurora Diamond Jubilee Committee in 1992 and as the Master of Ceremonies at the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Homestead-Aurora Cemetery. Gordon was a member of the Florence County Cancer Board for 31 years and the state cancer board for 3 years. Along with his wife, he was an American Cancer volunteer for thirty years and participated in the Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-II, providing information to cancer risk researchers. Gordon was considered a historian of Aurora and was a true pillar of the community. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aurora, where he served on the parish council and was an usher. He also belonged to the Cretton-Tutas American Legion Post #136 and the Niagara Knights of Columbus #2847, where he served as Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, trustee, and secretary. Gordon was an avid deer hunter and trout fisherman. He liked to fish in “the last of the best places” and spend time at Camp 12.5 with family, friends and his J.K. Gordon is survived by his children Juanita (David Burgess) Carlson of Lawrence, Kan., Marilyn (Bill) Vassar of Aurora, Patricia Church of Iron Mountain, Frances (Andrew) Herman of Niagara, Veronica Church of Niagara, Gerard (Linda) Church of Homestead, Joseph Church of Aurora, and Jon Church of Stephenson, his brother William (Florence) Church of Fence, his sister Marge DeClark of Powers, daughter-in-law Jackie Church of Goodman, son-in-law Ray Mianecki of Green Bay, numerous great grandchildren and even more grandchildren. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his son Peter, his daughter Katherine Mianecki, his brothers Clifford and Roger Church, his brother-in-law Gary DeClark and his sister-in-law Charlotte Church. Visitation will be Wed. from 9am-12 noon at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Funeral services will follow at 12 noon at the church. Father Matthew Settle will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in the Homestead-Aurora Cemetery. Gordon’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family would like to extend a thank you to the staff at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital, the VA Medical Center CLC, and Dr. Beth Schroeder and her staff for taking care of this great and wonderful man. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Gordon Church online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Gordon R. Church

September 25, 1927 - November 17, 2016