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Obituary for Scott W. Gaethke


Scott W. Gaethke, 58, passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at home with his loving family by his side after a long, hard battle with pancreatic cancer.

Scott was born on July 10, 1964, to parents Bill and Grace Gaethke in Elkhorn, WI. At the age of 8, his family moved to the La Crosse area (St. Joseph’s Ridge/Barre Mills). He graduated from West Salem High School in 1982. Scott was a very hard working person from 10 years old when he began working alongside his Dad doing masonry work. He worked at a neighboring farm with his closest friend, David. He was most recently employed as a truck driver for Kwik Trip and celebrated his 25th year there this past May. He married Tina Meyer in 1984, had one daughter, Jana, and later divorced. He married Kelly Hastings in 1994, who had a daughter, Jessie. Scott and Kelly had two daughters together, Nicole and Cassie. Scott lost his loving wife due to leukemia in 2005. He continued to work and raise his family. Scott married Julie York in 2012- who brought into the family three sons- Kevin, Kyle, and Shane. Until the time of Scott’s death, he enjoyed camping, riding his Harley motorcycle, and was a devoted Packer fan. He enjoyed family get-togethers and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will be missed by all.

Scott is survived by his loving wife, Julie; daughters, Jana (Coty) Boardman, Jessie (Nate) Bell, Nicole (Brett) Von Ruden, Cassie (TJ) Gaethke, and Brooke Ford; sons, Kyle (Jenny) Lowe and Shane York; 14 grandchildren; his parents, Bill and Grace Gaethke; brother, Randy (Rhonda) Gaethke; many nieces and nephews; loving brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and several friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kelly; a child they never got to hold; brother, Mark; son, Kevin; both maternal and paternal grandparents; his godparents, Evelyn and Victor Christian; and his first wife, Tina.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Fredrickson Funeral Home, 4239 Mormon Coulee Rd., La Crosse. Rev. Andrew Schultz will officiate. Burial will follow in Lower Coon Valley Lutheran Cemetery, Chaseburg. A visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Thursday, November 10, 2022, and also from 9:00 a.m., until the time of service, Friday, both at the funeral home.