Frederick R. Lehrke

Frederick R. Lehrke, age 89, passed away on December 3, 2023 at home in Rothschild.  Born October 22, 1934 to Gustave and Dorothy (Worthman) Lehrke in La Crosse, WI.  Fred grew up learning to love hunting and fishing on the Mississippi river and the bluffs of La Crosse.  Fred was a competitive athlete growing up and played football and threw the discus and shotput at La Crosse Central High School and also played football for UW-LA Crosse.  He received his Bachelors of Science from UW-La Crosse and a Masters of Science from UW-Whitewater.

Fred's greatest achievement came with marrying his wife of 65 years Sally (Ranger) on December 20, 1958.  Together they raised five children.  He loved his family and his joy was spending time with them. Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day are sacred times at the cottage for the entire family.  He enjoyed watching all his kids and grandkids in sports and their activities.

He served in the Navy, stationed in Pearl Harbor serving as a submariner and playing on the Pacific Fleet football team.  Fred wanted to be a teacher and football coach. At one school he was told he would have to coach wrestling if he wanted to coach football and coached the first wrestling match he ever saw.  He finished his career with state wrestling championships at Monroe in 1973 and D.C. Everest in 1978, 1982 and 1986.

Fred received numerous awards and recognition including membership in the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Fred's coaching legacy though is his positive impact on countless athletes and coaches throughout the state, not just those at the schools he coached at. As a member of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association, the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation and USA Wrestling he was instrumental in providing wrestling opportunities for wrestlers across the state.  

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Roderick and sister-in-law Linda.  He is survived by his wife Sally, children Gretchen (Tom) Wetzel, Adams, WI, Heidi (Mark) Bukowski, Milwaukee, WI, Jennifer (Peters) Lehrke, Wausau, WI, Eric Lehrke, Wausau, WI and Fritz (Carolyn) Lehrke, Wausau, WI., 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate memorials to a scholarship fund in Fred's name for D.C. Everest High School.  

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, December 14, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Weston, Pastor Lance will officiate.  A visitation will run from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Brainard Funeral Home in Weston.  A second visitation will run from 10:00 am until the time of services, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. A private family burial will take place at a later date.