James Lawrence Gehl

James Lawrence Gehl, Neosho, age 100, entered eternal life on December 28, 2025.
He was born in Milwaukee on August 25, 1925, to Amber (Gault) and Reuben Gehl. In his youth, James spent many happy hours with his grandfather Stewart Gault, Great-Aunt Mary Lacey, and other extended family members while growing up on the family farm in rural Neosho. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School in West Allis in 1943, where he was prom king and captain of the football team.
James returned to Neosho after graduation and spent his early working years as a butcher at his Uncle Russell Werner's IGA store. On August 10, 1949, he married his St. Matthew's Neosho elementary schoolmate, Mercedes Zimmer. In 1950 he purchased the family dairy farm where he had been raised, and he continued to tend the land he loved for the rest of his life.
In addition to being a successful dairy farmer, Jim shared his knowledge generously, offering advice to neighbors, young farmers, and international trainees from Brazil and Japan. Many remember him fondly for the exotic animals he raised in retirement, including emus, peacocks, Texas longhorn cattle, and piebald whitetail deer.
Jim loved hunting and fishing in the great outdoors. He walked the woods and swamps of Dodge County in search of deer, fox, coyote, and raccoon, and cherished time fishing with friends. He was a proud Green Bay Packers fan, often recalling with delight the first game he attended at Milwaukee County Stadium near his high school home in 1939. An accomplished cook from his National Guard years, he is lovingly remembered for his generous "Sunday spreads" for the family. He treasured sharing stories from times gone by and tales of early rural Wisconsin first told to him by his great-grandfather, Edward Gault.
Jim's spirit lives on in his three daughters: Gwendolyn (Jack Broesch) Gehl, Michele (Dave) Polster, and Mary Beth (Shinji Takahashi) Gehl. He is further survived by his grandchildren Amber Broesch, James Broesch, Megan (JJ) Noel, Lauren Hall, Clayton (Lisa) Hall, Ghen (Natasha) Takahashi, Nanna Takahashi(Jonathan Bernadel-Huey), and Liam (Hannah) Takahashi; his sweet great-grandchildren Kendall Buerger, Julian and Mabel Broesch, Colin Noel, Gael Rodriguez, Liam and Rion Hall, Lucian and Nicolet Takahashi, Maeve Takahashi; and his precious great-great-grandson, River Hall.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mercedes (2015); his sisters Jean (Jerome) Schalk and Mary Adams; his grandchildren Jameson and Lindsay Broesch; his great-granddaughter Emili Cruz; and many beloved relatives and friends from his long and fulfilling life in Dodge County.
Mass of Resurrection for James will be held at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, Neosho, on Saturday, January 3rd at 11 am, with visitation from 9-11am prior to Mass. Inurnment will take place at St. Bartholomew Cemetery, Neosho, immediately following Mass. Memorials may be made to the Catholic Ecology Center, Neosho.
May we remember James whenever we admire the beautiful farmland and landscape around us-the place he loved and called home.
If you would like to join us in mass, but are unable to attend, we will have a live stream of the service available by 10:45am, listed below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/m_jc8I64PDE