MONROE - Ernest Gebhardt enjoys seeing the world any chance he gets. But when he isn't traveling, he utilizes spare time to give back to his community, volunteering and taking part to lead so many organizations in Monroe, where he has deep roots.
Gebhardt grew up near Argyle at the Spore Cheese Factory between Argyle and Wiota. His father came to Monroe from Switzerland in 1929, making 200-pound wheels of Swiss in the 1940s. He was raised alongside three brothers, and when he was about 8, the factory closed. The family then farmed near Lamont until the late 1960s.
He enjoyed helping out on the 180-acre farm and recalls carrying the water from the milk house to their home to drink since there was no indoor plumbing. They milked about 30 cows, but when the herd would dip under 15, he and his brothers milked by hand. They moved off the farm in the 1960s and lived back at the cheese factory.
He attended the one-room Reed School in his elementary years and had two boys in his class. He eventually rode the bus to Argyle High School. He thoroughly enjoyed his ag and shop teacher and has fond memories of building things for homecoming parades.
"I got through English by working for the librarian," he laughed.
He was expected to be home to help with chores in the evenings, which he enjoyed. After graduation in 1961, Gebhardt worked on a couple of farms, including one near Brodhead where he lived with the family for a few years.
When he decided he'd had enough farming, Gebhardt started working for Oaktron Industries, a plant that made car speakers. He can remember being on the punch press there the day President Kennedy died.
Gebhardt was laid off when things slowed that April and began to look around at his options. He soon decided to join the Army after learning they would allow him to become a heavy-equipment mechanic. It was the start of the Vietnam War, and Gebhardt was sent to training at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
At his graduation with about 60 others, half of the group was sent to Vietnam and the other half to Germany. Gebhardt felt lucky he was sent to Germany for 2½ years. When he arrived in Nuremberg, he worked in a repair company for field generators. Later, he would become a technical supply clerk. He also volunteered to become a chaplain's assistant.
Some of the supply clerk duties were to take turns making meals for the soldiers in the kitchen. Gebhardt earned extra money from soldiers by taking their shifts and used the money to travel.
His aunt and uncle were living in Germany, and Gebhardt was able to visit them a handful of times. He also traveled extensively through Europe while he was there, seeing places like Berlin, Ireland, Scotland, Copenhagen, France, Rome, Pompeii and Venice.
"I couldn't understand people who spent their time wanting to go home when there was so much opportunity to travel," Gebhardt said.
Although he was offered $5,000 to reenlist with a rank equivalent to a sergeant, Gebhardt was ready to be done. He was honorably discharged with good conduct and earned national service medals. He came home in April 1967.
His father was working in Monroe at RR Donnelley as a part-time custodian and suggested Gebhardt apply to get in with the new company. That's exactly what happened. He started in May and stayed 33 years, first as a stock handler, then working as a press helper ordering parts for computers, then as a methods analyst and eventually working on development plans for carbonless paper. He worked closely with paper mills and appreciated the opportunity to work with people from all over the world. The business eventually became Moore Business Forms.
Gebhardt took advantage of an opportunity through Edgewood College's weekend degree program and earned his Bachelor of Science in business with a minor in psychology in 1986. There had been a reimbursement program for high grades, and Gebhardt graduated cum laude.
As the company went through changes, so did Gebhardt's job. He worked as a materials coordinator and buyer for Monroe after the company went to consolidated purchasing. He accepted a job in California but worked from Monroe, becoming a member of the national purchasing team out of Chicago.
In 2000, the company had a major reduction of business because of the Y2K scare and it downsized, letting go of 40 people in Monroe. Gebhardt was offered retirement and left at age 57.
Looking for work locally proved difficult, but Gebhardt stayed busy by becoming a volunteer driver for the Green County Health System, taking diabetes patients to Janesville for dialysis. He also worked for the United States Census as a recruiting assistant. While he waited for patients, he looked for jobs and finally took one at Charlton Group in Monroe where he became a telemarketer.
He stayed for nine years, and though he didn't especially like the work, he said it paid well for Monroe and offered benefits while he still had two children at home. He eventually trained all new employees and retired again in 2011.
Two days after he retired, he and wife Beverly packed and traveled west; they didn't return until February.
Gebhardt's community involvement started early and hasn't stopped. He became a Jaycee when he returned from the Army in 1967 and said the group was what helped get him out of his shell. He received the Outstanding Junior Citizen Award in 1979.
The Jaycees were all challenged in 1973 to join the Green County Board of Supervisors and Gebhardt took it, serving more than five years until 1978. When he moved to the other side of town, he was in a new district and didn't run again, but Beverly did and served on both the county board and the Monroe city council.
In 1970, Gebhardt was part of the Monroe United Fund, serving as the group's treasurer from 1970 to 1971. He is a member of the Monroe United Methodist Church and has been the chairman of the building committee, was on the pastor parish committee, and chairs the board of trustees.
In 1981, he joined Cub Scout Pack 114 with his son Paul and served as the assistant cubmaster and Webelos leader. In 1994, he joined again, this time with his son David, and served as the pack committee cubmaster and assistant cubmaster until 1997.
Gebhardt joined the Zilmer-Riley American Legion in 1987, eventually becoming commander in 1989, and is still a life member. He was voted to commander again last year and is also part of the honor guard, performing at funerals. He has been a part of the Green County Historical Society since 1973, a life member, and has served as its president. He was part of the Crime Stoppers board of directors from 1998 until his term limit was up in 2004, and he served on the Monroe Police Reserves for a few years until the group disbanded in 2004.
"I got involved to make friends," Gebhardt said.
He currently serves as a docent for the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. He is part of Yester Year Auto Club, as a life member and serving as the group's president in 2012, and has a collection of five cars. Last year, he purchased a 1994 LeBaron convertible.
He still enjoys attending the veterans breakfasts at Behring Senior Center and loves to meet up with other vets. Last year, he joined the Green County Genealogical Society, and in 2015, joined the Turner Hall group because of his rich Swiss background.
In 1987, Gebhardt took his two oldest children to visit the family home in Switzerland with several other relatives. He hoped to take his two younger children later on, but Beverly died from cancer in 2015, two days before the couple's 46th wedding anniversary. The trip was postponed.
"She is very missed," he said.
They finally made it, traveling through Turner Hall in September for 14 days, during which they were able to spend time with family and visit meaningful places.
"I am so thankful that all four of my children were able to see the house in Switzerland with me present," he said.
Gebhardt stays busy but also enjoys being part of the YMCA Silver Sneakers group. He loves to start his days with movement.
"It's one of the main things I attribute my good health to," Gebhardt said. "It helps fill the day."
He also enjoys spending time with his four children, their spouses and his four grandchildren.
Traveling is something Gebhardt still takes advantage of whenever possible; he is always up for a trip. He's been to Switzerland and Hawaii recently, often traveling with groups and friends. He took a 70th birthday cruise to Alaska with some of his children, which he noted was the perfect gift.
In his downtime, he enjoys Turner Classic Movies and parades. He also enjoys parties and hosted an open house in December for Christmas. A small barn on his property has a room dedicated to Halloween year-round. Gebhardt's 1930 home is packed with inexpensive treasures collected through the years.
A favorite quote Gebhardt enjoys that follows his mantra of always having a positive attitude is this one: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't - you're probably right."
Gebhardt grew up near Argyle at the Spore Cheese Factory between Argyle and Wiota. His father came to Monroe from Switzerland in 1929, making 200-pound wheels of Swiss in the 1940s. He was raised alongside three brothers, and when he was about 8, the factory closed. The family then farmed near Lamont until the late 1960s.
He enjoyed helping out on the 180-acre farm and recalls carrying the water from the milk house to their home to drink since there was no indoor plumbing. They milked about 30 cows, but when the herd would dip under 15, he and his brothers milked by hand. They moved off the farm in the 1960s and lived back at the cheese factory.
He attended the one-room Reed School in his elementary years and had two boys in his class. He eventually rode the bus to Argyle High School. He thoroughly enjoyed his ag and shop teacher and has fond memories of building things for homecoming parades.
"I got through English by working for the librarian," he laughed.
He was expected to be home to help with chores in the evenings, which he enjoyed. After graduation in 1961, Gebhardt worked on a couple of farms, including one near Brodhead where he lived with the family for a few years.
When he decided he'd had enough farming, Gebhardt started working for Oaktron Industries, a plant that made car speakers. He can remember being on the punch press there the day President Kennedy died.
Gebhardt was laid off when things slowed that April and began to look around at his options. He soon decided to join the Army after learning they would allow him to become a heavy-equipment mechanic. It was the start of the Vietnam War, and Gebhardt was sent to training at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
At his graduation with about 60 others, half of the group was sent to Vietnam and the other half to Germany. Gebhardt felt lucky he was sent to Germany for 2½ years. When he arrived in Nuremberg, he worked in a repair company for field generators. Later, he would become a technical supply clerk. He also volunteered to become a chaplain's assistant.
Some of the supply clerk duties were to take turns making meals for the soldiers in the kitchen. Gebhardt earned extra money from soldiers by taking their shifts and used the money to travel.
His aunt and uncle were living in Germany, and Gebhardt was able to visit them a handful of times. He also traveled extensively through Europe while he was there, seeing places like Berlin, Ireland, Scotland, Copenhagen, France, Rome, Pompeii and Venice.
"I couldn't understand people who spent their time wanting to go home when there was so much opportunity to travel," Gebhardt said.
Although he was offered $5,000 to reenlist with a rank equivalent to a sergeant, Gebhardt was ready to be done. He was honorably discharged with good conduct and earned national service medals. He came home in April 1967.
His father was working in Monroe at RR Donnelley as a part-time custodian and suggested Gebhardt apply to get in with the new company. That's exactly what happened. He started in May and stayed 33 years, first as a stock handler, then working as a press helper ordering parts for computers, then as a methods analyst and eventually working on development plans for carbonless paper. He worked closely with paper mills and appreciated the opportunity to work with people from all over the world. The business eventually became Moore Business Forms.
Gebhardt took advantage of an opportunity through Edgewood College's weekend degree program and earned his Bachelor of Science in business with a minor in psychology in 1986. There had been a reimbursement program for high grades, and Gebhardt graduated cum laude.
As the company went through changes, so did Gebhardt's job. He worked as a materials coordinator and buyer for Monroe after the company went to consolidated purchasing. He accepted a job in California but worked from Monroe, becoming a member of the national purchasing team out of Chicago.
In 2000, the company had a major reduction of business because of the Y2K scare and it downsized, letting go of 40 people in Monroe. Gebhardt was offered retirement and left at age 57.
Looking for work locally proved difficult, but Gebhardt stayed busy by becoming a volunteer driver for the Green County Health System, taking diabetes patients to Janesville for dialysis. He also worked for the United States Census as a recruiting assistant. While he waited for patients, he looked for jobs and finally took one at Charlton Group in Monroe where he became a telemarketer.
He stayed for nine years, and though he didn't especially like the work, he said it paid well for Monroe and offered benefits while he still had two children at home. He eventually trained all new employees and retired again in 2011.
Two days after he retired, he and wife Beverly packed and traveled west; they didn't return until February.
Gebhardt's community involvement started early and hasn't stopped. He became a Jaycee when he returned from the Army in 1967 and said the group was what helped get him out of his shell. He received the Outstanding Junior Citizen Award in 1979.
The Jaycees were all challenged in 1973 to join the Green County Board of Supervisors and Gebhardt took it, serving more than five years until 1978. When he moved to the other side of town, he was in a new district and didn't run again, but Beverly did and served on both the county board and the Monroe city council.
In 1970, Gebhardt was part of the Monroe United Fund, serving as the group's treasurer from 1970 to 1971. He is a member of the Monroe United Methodist Church and has been the chairman of the building committee, was on the pastor parish committee, and chairs the board of trustees.
In 1981, he joined Cub Scout Pack 114 with his son Paul and served as the assistant cubmaster and Webelos leader. In 1994, he joined again, this time with his son David, and served as the pack committee cubmaster and assistant cubmaster until 1997.
Gebhardt joined the Zilmer-Riley American Legion in 1987, eventually becoming commander in 1989, and is still a life member. He was voted to commander again last year and is also part of the honor guard, performing at funerals. He has been a part of the Green County Historical Society since 1973, a life member, and has served as its president. He was part of the Crime Stoppers board of directors from 1998 until his term limit was up in 2004, and he served on the Monroe Police Reserves for a few years until the group disbanded in 2004.
"I got involved to make friends," Gebhardt said.
He currently serves as a docent for the National Historic Cheesemaking Center. He is part of Yester Year Auto Club, as a life member and serving as the group's president in 2012, and has a collection of five cars. Last year, he purchased a 1994 LeBaron convertible.
He still enjoys attending the veterans breakfasts at Behring Senior Center and loves to meet up with other vets. Last year, he joined the Green County Genealogical Society, and in 2015, joined the Turner Hall group because of his rich Swiss background.
In 1987, Gebhardt took his two oldest children to visit the family home in Switzerland with several other relatives. He hoped to take his two younger children later on, but Beverly died from cancer in 2015, two days before the couple's 46th wedding anniversary. The trip was postponed.
"She is very missed," he said.
They finally made it, traveling through Turner Hall in September for 14 days, during which they were able to spend time with family and visit meaningful places.
"I am so thankful that all four of my children were able to see the house in Switzerland with me present," he said.
Gebhardt stays busy but also enjoys being part of the YMCA Silver Sneakers group. He loves to start his days with movement.
"It's one of the main things I attribute my good health to," Gebhardt said. "It helps fill the day."
He also enjoys spending time with his four children, their spouses and his four grandchildren.
Traveling is something Gebhardt still takes advantage of whenever possible; he is always up for a trip. He's been to Switzerland and Hawaii recently, often traveling with groups and friends. He took a 70th birthday cruise to Alaska with some of his children, which he noted was the perfect gift.
In his downtime, he enjoys Turner Classic Movies and parades. He also enjoys parties and hosted an open house in December for Christmas. A small barn on his property has a room dedicated to Halloween year-round. Gebhardt's 1930 home is packed with inexpensive treasures collected through the years.
A favorite quote Gebhardt enjoys that follows his mantra of always having a positive attitude is this one: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't - you're probably right."