Ervin H. Briese

Mr. Ervin H. Briese, age 92, a resident of Prairie Place in Ripon, and formerly from the small town of Green Lake, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Prairie Place in Ripon, WI, with his daughter, Jan and granddaughter, Andrea by his side. He was born on January 26, 1930, in the township of Harris in Marquette County, the son of William and Clara (Kohnke) Briese. On November 12, 1955, Ervin married his sweetie, Caroline B. (Lange) Briese in Crystal Lake at the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Growing up, Ervin not only worked on the Briese Farm, but also worked part-time on neighboring farms. His fond memories on the farm included harvesting crops and milking cows. Working on the farm helped make Ervin the hardworking man we all knew and loved. He stayed working on the farm until he turned 21, when he was drafted into the Marines and served during 1951-1953 in the Korean War. If you asked Ervin, his most important job was as a milk man because that is the job that led him to meet his “sweetie,” Caroline. She was working at the Golden Horse Ranch as a cook and Ervin met her when delivering milk. If you would ask Ervin about how he met his wife, he would say “I was the milkman, and the rest is history.” Some of the other jobs Ervin had over the years included working at the Harrisville Feed Mill, the Canning Factory, at Westfield Produce as a truck driver hauling fertilizer for the farmers, at A to Z Flooring in Ripon, and his last job before retirement was at Speed Queen. He worked for Speed Queen a total of 29 years, with 13 of those years being on the assembly line and then the remaining years being a “grease monkey.” In his free time, he enjoyed being a volunteer fireman with the Harrisville Fire Department, you could often find Ervin outside or in the garage tinkering on projects, at the Pickett Steam and Gas Engine Show in Pickett, WI and various other Thresheree’s. If you knew Ervin, you might remember some of his projects, including the Tin Lizzie, the windmills that he made for each of his sons, the life-size Nativity scene that would be proudly displayed out front of their house, wishing wells, and flower carts. Ervin not only built his house but also helped in building Scott and Jan’s house and remodeled Steve and Ron houses.

Ervin was a lifelong member of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Green Lake, WI. There, he served as an elder of the church, as well as helped out various church and school projects, and was always good at seeing what needed to be done, and doing it. Ervin was always willing to help others. Although a paralyzing stroke left him to be in a wheelchair for the last 17 years of his life, he never once complained and always had a smile on his face, as well as never stopped asking how others were doing. Ervin was a kind, caring, and easy-to-love husband, dad, grandpa, uncle and friend.

Those Ervin leaves behind to cherish his memory include his sons, Scott (Jan) Briese of Green Lake, Steve (Connie) Briese of Ripon; daughter-in-law, Sandy Briese of Oshkosh. While Ervin and Caroline never had any biological daughters, Scott’s wife, Jan Briese, took the daughter role at a young age and was cherished and referred to as their “daughter.” Ervin is further survived by his grandchildren, Andrea Briese of Green Lake and Amber (fiancé, Cole) Briese of Berlin; Nathan (Alli) Briese and Hilary (Andy) Briese of Oshkosh; Rebecca (Craig) Scherer of Neenah, Lisa (Joe) Failla of St. Peters, Missouri, and Beth (Mike) Miller of Oshkosh; 12 great grandchildren with another on the way; and many other relatives including nieces, nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Clara (Kohnke) Briese; his loving wife, Caroline; his oldest son, Ron Briese; sisters, Edna and Elda Briese; brothers, Arden and Wilbert Briese.

A private funeral service for Ervin H. Briese will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at the Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home, 303 Harvard St., in Princeton. Pastor Nick Haasch, of Peace Lutheran Church (Green Lake), will officiate. Ervin will be laid to rest following the service in the Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established at Peace Lutheran Church, 440 Lake Street, Green Lake, WI 54941. Please visit our website www.wachholzandsons.com to send a condolence or to share a memory of Ervin with his family.

The family of Ervin Briese would like to thank the many caregivers at Prairie Place in Ripon for the care provided over the last 7 ½ years. Also, we would like to thank Pastor Haasch for all of the times he visited and spent time with Ervin and his family. We would also like to thank Ervin’s Lakeland Care team and the Green Lake Hospice team for all of the care and support provided to Ervin and his family. The Green Lake Hospice staff has truly been a blessing. Lastly, we would like to thank the staff at Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home for being so helpful and supportive.

Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home

Sunset Cremation Center in Princeton

Serving the Family, 920-295-6631

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