Dr. Joseph R. Ganshert, age 99 of Monroe, passed away Friday November 18, 2022. He was born on September 8, 1923 at the Deaconess Hospital in Monroe, WI the son of Dr. Joseph W. Ganshert and Marie L. Norton and brother to an older sister Margaret Elaine and a younger brother Paul William.
After graduating from Monroe High School, Dr. Joe had many jobs before joining the Army Air Corps where he served from 1942 to 1945. After spending time in Florida, Oklahoma and Texas, he eventually served as long range radar maintenance with the 8th Air Force, 303rd B-17 Heavy Bomb Group, known as Hell’s Angels, in Molesworth, England. He had the opportunity to see Queen Mary and her daughter, Princess Elizabeth.
After the war, Dr. Joe enrolled at Beloit College, University of Wisconsin, Madison and eventually attended Marquette University School of Dentistry during the day and worked at a Milwaukee bakery at night. While in school, he married Louise Vincent on September 4, 1948. They moved back to Monroe in 1951 where he rekindled his father’s dental practice and treated patients for nearly 60 years.
A true passion for Dr. Joe was playing the trombone. He played with many bands including the “Last Gasp Jazz Band” and with the Monroe City band for sixty years. He was a loyal member of St. Victor’s Catholic Church, the Lion’s Club, the Jaycees, the Knights of Columbus and the “Toothless Tigers.” He loved to hunt, fish and camp and attend his grandchildren’s events. He traveled many miles in his small camper “Rita.” He was an avid Badger and Packer fan. Dr. Joe was compassionate and witty and had a joke or story for every occasion. He always said that the thing about a good story teller is that you can’t tell where the truth ends and the BS starts.
The story of Dr. Joe lives on in his family. He is survived by his children: William (Jane) Ganshert of Madison, Michael (Stephanie) Ganshert of New Glarus, JoAnn Wolff of Monroe, Cindy (Joseph) Pluchinotta of Albuquerque, NM, Dennis (Jane) Ganshert of Monroe, Janet Wenger of Monroe, Laurie (Dan) Slusser of Monroe, Thomas (Jodi) Ganshert of Monroe and Mary (Troy) Stretz of Quincy, IL; 22 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul, sister Elaine Baltzer, daughter Karen Sue Ganshert, son James Ganshert, wife Louise, son-in-law Steve Wenger, grandson Daniel Pluchinotta and son-in-law Randy Wolff.
Dr. Joe was so fortunate to receive such loving care from his family, friends, the fine doctors and staffs at the Monroe Clinic and the VA Hospital; so fortunate, that he called himself, LUCKY JOE.
A visitation will be held at St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Victor’s Catholic Church 9:00am on January 7, 2023. A funeral mass will start at 11:00am with Monsignor Daniel Ganshert as celebrant. Memorials will be made to the Monroe City Band, Monroe Youth Hockey, and the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities.
Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.
