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BORN
1935
DIED
2025
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Joseph Gray Obituary
March 10, 1935 - December 30, 2025
Joseph Vern Gray, age 90, died on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at the Wisconsin Dells Health Service. Joseph was born on March 10, 1935 to Joseph and Beatrice (Lafler) Gray.
Joe was a man of many hats, Literally, known by many as "Scooter Joe."
He was employed at Rayovac for many years and drove truck for a beer distributor.
He enjoyed tinkering on old cars, and he had a yard full, enjoyed stock cars, was a former member of the Portage snowmobile club. Enjoyed fishing and hunting. Joe was a lifelong Packer fan. Most of all he loved his family and enjoyed every visit with them.
He is survived by his children, Janene (Bill) Mongillo, John Gray (Kathi Lemi), Janelle Gray (Jeff Georgeson), Julie (Mike) Kopfhamer, Jennifer (Brian) Peterson, Jill (Scott) Burdick, Jeff (Shannon) Gray; his grandchildren Andrea (Ben) Wenzel (Wyatt, Watson and Winston), Amber (Geoff) Rademacher (Calvin, Myles, Nolan), Jordyn Midstokke (Ethan Gerrits) (Eli and Vivian), Tracy (Brad) Veith, Makayla and Dylan (Tabby), Lisa Gray (Collin Spencer) (AJ), Brian (Traci) Zurfluh, Harley Tollefson (Andy Ley), (Aiden, Lucy, Everest, Sawyer) Tess Tollefson, Charlize Zurfluh, Robert Wiersma, Carilyn (Jaz) Carroll, Teresa (Seth) Noble, Todd (Rebekah) Winkler Gabriel and Amelia, Heather Winkler (Dillon) Christian Peterson (Mady O'Neill) (Matthew), Caitlin Peterson (Michael Simpson), Jamie Gray (Logan Lindsey) Liam, Jakop Gray (Taylor Werner), Jocelynn Gray (Kassandra), Jeorgia Gray (James Kerrigan) Jessika Gray (Alex Golbach). Also survived by his brother Richard Gray and two sisters Joanne Wruck and Barb (Pixie) Shaw.
A special mention of a family friends and care takers Karen Jeske and Doug Iverson.
Joe and Judy had recently reunited in love.
He is preceded in death by his parents, children: Jolene, Jackie, Jimmy, Jerry, Joellyn, his granddaughter – Sara Gray and great-grandson – Alex Midstokke; brothers Cecil Gray and Eugene Gray, a sister Rosetta Gray; and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
A Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in the Kratz Funeral Home in Portage, Wis. Father Randy Timmerman will be officiating. A public visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kratz Funeral Home in Portage, Wis., and also one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Burial will follow the service at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Briggsville, Wis.
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Sponsored by Kratz Funeral Home - Portage.
1 Entry
Cindy Barton Becker
January 6, 2026
My deepest sympathy to Joe's entire family and friends. I remember Joe and his family visiting his Aunt Ev (my grandma) when I was a kid. He also rode his scooter to visit with my dad Donald Barton after my mom Carol passed away. He was such an enjoyable and kind man. He will be missed
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