Elmer Harvey Custer

MADISON-Elmer Harvey Custer, age 85, passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2013. Elmer was born on Sept. 25, 1927 in Chilton, to Albert and Rosalia (Saxer) Kuster. He married Shirley Ann Hipke in August 1954 in New Holstein. Elmer served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War until 1959. After graduating from UW-Whitewater in 1959, he began his career in Green Lake as a business teacher. Elmer then moved his family to Madison to take a job at the Public Service Commission as a utility auditor. From there he worked for two CPA firms before leaving to start his own business. Elmer loved his golden retrievers, raising angora rabbits, and hunting deer, geese and ducks. Living near Lake Monona for many years, he enjoyed fishing for lake trout, northern, blue gills or anything that would bite. Having caught every kind of fish in the lake, he was proudest of the Muskie he caught later in life. Elmer was a proud member of Doric Masonic Lodge No. 356, Valley of Madison Scottish Rite, and Zor Shrine. He served at Doric Masonic Lodge as Trustee, Treasurer and Tiler, and was active in Scottish Rite, ushering for years for the Maundy Thursday services and Easter Sunday services, as well as taking non-speaking parts in their degrees. As a member of Zor Shrine, Elmer was a member of the Veterans Patrol and active with the photo corp, taking pictures for their monthly newsletter. He was also a long time member of Lake Edge United Church of Christ. Elmer is survived by sons, Mitch (Sandie), Jay (Lisa); daughter, Heidi; grandchildren, Michelle (Bret) Pearson, Becky Custer (Noah Woods), Jared, Mallory, and McKayla Custer; great-grandchildren, Noah and Elin Pearson; sisters, Alice (Ernie) Ammon of Monroe, Myra (Robert) Daul of Chilton, Hilda (Reuben) Duchow of Marshfield; sister-in-law, Mary Frisch of New Holstein; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; his parents, Albert and Rose; brothers, Alfred and Emil (Jacqueline); sisters, Ida (Buddy) Behnke and Jenny (Reuben) Koffarnus; brother-in-law, Walt Frisch; and sister-in-law, Barbara Driskill. A Masonic service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, with a Christian service to follow and military rites being conducted. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until the time of service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Zor Shrine Hospitals or Doric Masonic Lodge. A sincere thank you to the staff at Harmony Living for the care and compassion they extended to Elmer during the past 4 years. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Zor Shrine Hospitals or Doric Masonic Lodge. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until the time of service on Saturday. A Masonic service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, with a Christian service to follow and military rites being conducted.