Bio: Georgas, Elmer - Honored by State Funeral Homes (1983)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Georgas, Zarnke, Schiller, Bruss, Jaster, Bergemann, Gesche

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/16/1983

Georgas, Elmer-Honored by State Funeral Homes (1983)

A retired funeral director, who served the Neillsville area for 38 years, was honored recently by the Wisconsin Funeral Directors association at a La Crosse meeting. Honored was Elmer Georgas, now of Mesa, Arizona, and formerly of Neillsville.

A Certificate of Recognition was given to Elmer and his wife, Edna, for their 50 years of service in the funeral business.

Elmer Georgas graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Mortuary Science in 1933. His first position was in Sparta, where he received $5 a week, plus room and board. He later moved to Stevens Point and worked for a funeral home there.

In 1937, Elmer moved to Neillsville where he worked for a funeral home owned by Rose Schiller. Three years later, he married Edna Bruss.

In 1942, Elmer enlisted in the U.S. Navy and worked as a pharmacist mate, serving three years. For Nine months of that time, he was aboard a gasoline tanker in the pacific. He was discharged in November of 1945.

Upon his return, Elmer and Edna purchased the Jaster Funeral Home, taking ownership January 1, 1946. In 1963, they purchased the Bergemann Funeral Home of Neillsville and merged into a single operation. Lowell Gesche joined the Georgas couple in 1963 and the business subsequently became known as the Georgas-Gesche Funeral Home. In 1975, Elmer and Edna retired with Gesche taking over the business.

Elmer and Edna bult a home in Neillsville and opted to winter in Arizona. In July of 1982, they sold their home in Neillsville and purchased a home in Mesa, Arizona, for a permanent residence. They do return to Neillsville each summer to renew acquaintances.