Walter Gojmerac

MADISON--Walter L. Gojmerac, age 91, died on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at BrightStar Senior Living in Madison. He was born April 8, 1925, in Rib Lake, WI, son of George and Mary (Yarnovich) Gojmerac.

After graduating from Rib Lake High School in 1943, Walter joined the U.S. Marine Corps and took part in the Battles of Saipan and Iwo Jima. Thanks to the GI Bill, Walter furthered his education at St. Mary's College, Winona, MN, and earned his BS at UW-Madison. After teaching high school biology, chemistry and general science in Casco, WI, for two years, he continued his education and received his MS from Marquette University and his PhD, in 1955, from UW-Madison. A mutual friend introduced Walter to Eleanor Dykstra, at St. Paul's University Chapel, where they were married two years later on July 30, 1955.

As an entomologist employed by university and industry, his career took him to North Dakota, California and Iowa. In 1965, he was hired by UW-Madison, as a professor, and assumed responsibilities with the UW-Extension for educational programs in the area of insects affecting man and animals and beekeeping. Walter was fortunate to be able to combine his hobby of beekeeping with his profession. He was the author of many scientific, technical and popularized articles on insects as well as books on beekeeping. His career gave him the opportunity to travel extensively in Wisconsin, throughout the US, and to Brazil and Bulgaria. He has received numerous awards and special recognition for work in his field. He retired in 1993.

Walter was a faithful member of St. Maria Goretti Parish for 51 years. Family, both immediate and extended, was a top priority throughout Walter's life. Along with beekeeping, he also enjoyed gardening, woodworking, fishing, reading, attending his children's many concerts and programs, and meeting with retired co-workers and former Marines. His lifelong thirst for knowledge made him a formidable debater as he tried to educate by taking an opposing view. Walter's diverse tastes included opera, Hee Haw, the Wall Street Journal and his homemade "wine." He required his children to practice recycling and energy efficiency before it was the norm.

Walter is survived by his wife, Eleanor; children, David (Krystie), Ellen (Dan Olsen), Janet (Ted Underhill), and Karen (Dennis) Waldo; son-in-law John Lorence; 13 grandchildren; 7 great-grandsons and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his oldest child, Catherine Lorence; his parents; and siblings Mary (Nick) Ceranski, Charles (Stella), Joseph (Patricia), George (Darlene), Albert (Bernice), Christine (Leon) Roelke and Dorothy (Wayne) Kain.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at St. Maria Goretti Church, 5313 Flad Avenue, Madison. Visitation will take place at the church from 10:00 am until the mass. The family would like to thank the staff at BrightStar for their thoughtful and compassionate care of Walter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UW Foundation or St. Maria Goretti Parish.

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Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434