Gregory William Dahmen

MIDDLETON - Gregory W. Dahmen: Our Dad was a man of service. Service first and foremost to his family, his church, his community, and the employers he honored with hard work and dedication. We were given a gift that we got to keep for 97 years. How lucky were we? After Mom passed away in 2000, our Dad honored her by continuing to be the fabric that secured our family through good times and bad. He told us that “after the storm, there will be sunshine.” He was our rock. On Sept. 3, 2022, our Mom, Mary Ann (Simon) Dahmen, and our brother, Bruce Dahmen, took him by the hand to that heavenly place that his faith assured him of.

I’m sure many of you have been the beneficiaries of his warm hug, a gentle kiss, a handshake, some words of encouragement, and kindness from our Dad. He epitomized the phrase “people person.” We shared him with many people whom he considered friends.

Dad was born in 1925 to Anton and Elizabeth Dahmen on the home farm in Ashton, Wis. Dad attended St. Peter’s Catholic School along with his three brothers and three sisters. In 1949, he married Mary Ann Simon from Springfield Corners. Mom was one of 11 of the Simon family and he was honored to become part of their loving and giving family. Together, they celebrated 50 years of marriage before Mom’s passing in 2000. In 1952, Bruce was born. Sheila followed in 1960, and Kendall in 1969. Our parents were of service to their children in all facets of our lives. Wherever we were, whatever we needed, whenever we called, they were there to guide, to help, to love. We had the very best parents any three children could ask for.

At age 21, Dad left the farm life and began a career of serving people. His service to retail customers began at The Middleton Farmer’s Co-op, continued at Montgomery Ward and The Bruce Company, served as the district manager for Fish Building Supply and then the East Regional Advertising Manager at Madison Newspapers. After his retirement in 1989, he worked for Gunderson Funeral Home until 2017 and had helped families in grief for more than a quarter-century.

Dad was also a man of service to his church. A member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Ashton and then St. Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton, Dad’s faith was steadfast and strong. He served the church through participation in the men’s choir in Ashton and was an integral part of the team that organized the spaghetti dinner for decades at St. Bernard. He ushered Mass for more than 50 years.

Dad was also a man of service to his community. He was a member of the Middleton Chamber of Commerce and President in 1969-70. He was a Good Neighbor Festival President, GNF Parade coordinator, and won the Good Neighbor Award in 1998. Mom and Dad worked the Middleton voting polls together for more than 30 years. Dad made many contributions to baseball in this area. He managed the Springfield Home Talent from 1944-1965. Dad continued to be involved with the Middleton Home Talent for decades. He was inducted into the Mallards Baseball Wall of Fame in 2012. Dad received two Wisconsin State Baseball Commission Awards: The Dennis Morgan Award in 1984 and the Henry Busch Award in 2002. Dad was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Middleton Businessmen’s Bowling League for 32 years and was named Secretary of the Year in 1992-93.

Dad was given a German Hohner button box accordion when he was a young boy. He taught himself to play it and offered his gift of music to dozens of nursing home facilities over several decades to entertain the residents. You could also hear him playing on his back deck, the driveway, bus trips to Branson, The Middleton Historical Society Ice Cream Social, or at any friend and family gathering.

Dad is survived by his daughter, Sheila Dahmen Hibner and Perry Hibner, their children, Keegan Nesvacil (Kelly), Katherine Hibner, and Nathan Hibner, and great-grandchild, Carson; his son, Kendall and Sharon Dahmen, and their children, Beau and Milanne Dahmen; and his daughter-in-law, Peggi Dahmen and her and Bruce’s children, Tyler Dahmen (Emilie Pinkovitz) and Justin Dahmen (Amy), along with great-grandchildren, Bryce, Coleman, and Vanessa.

Dad is survived by his siblings, Fidalia Breunig, Donald Dahmen, Antoinette Juris, and Theresa Sheldon; and mom’s siblings, Elaine Busch, Diana Scherer (William), Judella Olson (Paul), and in-laws, Vern Frederick and Alice Simon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (Simon) Dahmen; his son, Bruce Dahmen; his parents, Anton and Elizabeth Dahmen; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Emma Simon; his brothers, Chris and Florian Dahmen, along with their respective spouses, Emma and Charlene; and in-laws, Gerry Dahmen, Leo Breunig, Leon Juris, and Gene Sheldon. He was also predeceased by Rick Nesvacil.

He was also preceded in death by mom’s family, Magdalen Luxton and her husband, Roland; Lorraine Hellenbrand and her husband, La Verne; Jack Simon and his wife, Dolores; Donna Statz and her husband, Fritz; Emogene Frederick; Marlene Endres and her husband, Arnold; Marland Busch; and Stan Simon.

Dad was also predeceased by some very special nieces and nephews, Tommy Sheldon, Amy Juris, DeDe Kessenich, Sue Busch, and Vernon Dahmen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Ave., Middleton, on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, at 11 a.m.  Friends and family who wish to view services via LIVE STREAM may visit Greg’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and click on the Live Webcast link at 11 a.m. on Friday. Visitation will take place on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton. An additional visitation prior to Mass on Friday will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church. A luncheon will follow the burial.

Thank you to his loving and dedicated caregiver, Peter Stilling, and Agrace HospiceCare, especially Nikki and Leslie. We appreciate the care and love you showed to Dad the last few years.

This hung on Mom and Dad’s refrigerator, and it speaks to the people they were: “Service is a smile. It is an acknowledging wave, a reaching handshake, a friendly wink, and a warm hug. It's these simple acts that matter most, because the greatest service to a human soul has always been the kindness of recognition.” - Richelle E. Goodrich

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761