Marshall Buehler

Marshall Buehler was born on June 21, 1927, in Wisconsin Rapids. Parents were Gus and Helen Buehler. His brother Tom (Marge) preceded him in death, and he is survived by his sister Joan Palen.
Marshall married Patricia Kennedy in Port Edwards in 1951. They had three children Ken, Gretchen and Juli Buehler Dennis. (Robert), and three grandchildren: Thurgood, August and Micah Dennis.
Marshall's early education was in Nekoosa and Port Edwards and he graduated from John Edwards High School. After service in the Army, he attended Marquette University. He was employed by Great Northern Nekoosa Corporation in its Research Department, and then as Manager of Customer Promotions and Travel.
During Marshall's active life he served as Village Trustee for 31 years and Village President for a short term to fill a vacancy. He was a member of the Port Edwards School Board for seven years and served as President and Vice President of the South Wood County Historical Corporation as well as a charter member of their board of directors.
As a member of the Mid-Continent Railroad Museum, Marshall was a certified train conductor and a member of that organization's trust board. Train travel was his favorite pastime, and he rode on trains across the US and 18 other countries.
Marshall was a well-known speaker and lecturer in this area as well as an author. His specialty was local history, of which he processed a vast knowledge. He was the founding director of the Alexander House, Center for Art and History in Port Edwards and served as Vice President of the Alexander Foundation.
In 2001 he was honored as the Wisconsin Rapids Citizen of the Year.
Among Marshall's many other were activities service as a Boy Scout Leader, membership on St. Alexander's Church Council and various positions in the Port Edwards Business Council.
After this busy and rewarding career, Marshall deserves rest.
Services will be on Friday January 31, 2025, at St. Alexander's Church in Port Edwards, Wisconsin. Visitation at the church is at 10:00am. Services are at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the South Wood County Historical Corporation or to the John Marshall Buehler Scholarship for John Edwards High School through Incourage. Go to Incouragecf.org.
What the Family Would Also Like You to Know
"Drive carefully and look out for deer." That was Marshall's admonition to everyone taking a trip. Our father's life journey has reached its final destination.
Gretchen, Juli and Ken are writing this because Marshall was as parsimonious with words as he was with money. The above, self-written obituary is like a scene from TV's Dragnet, he gave us just the facts sir. just the facts.
For 97 years Marshall Buehler lived many lives well. He was an honorable hardworking person. A loving, life partner with our mother Pat, even after her passing.
Marshall was a glorious father and grandfather. All year-round Saturdays were for hikes picnics and other adventures at; Cranberry Rock, NEPCO Lake toboggan slide, Iverson Park in Stevens Point, North Wood County Park and many others.
He loved House on the Rock - even though we couldn't go there for a time because Gretchen and Ken got kicked out for wading in the Wishing Well scooping up quarters. In our defense we had asked what charity the money went to and were told, "There's no charity. Our boss keeps the money."
Juli brought her moments. At a restaurant gift exchange one Christmas her family gave Marshall a vintage Erector Set. It had everything to build a metal Ferris Wheel including a small electric motor. To test it Marshall had Gus plug the motor into a wall socket by their table. There was a bright spark, a loud snap and the whiff of ozone. The entire building went dark.
The bill was already paid and Marshall said, "Let's get out of here before they figure out what happened."
Dad was our dadibaajimoowinini, the Anishinaabe word for storyteller. At the dining room table, on car trips in an automobile without a radio or at bedtime, Marshall was the one who brought the story. A memory, a tall tale, or the history of Port Edwards and papermaking, he honored the tradition of all people who carry the spoken word.
This gift is what made him such a great speaker and lecturer. He left no Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club or historical group untouched. He has the pens and coffee cups to prove it.
Because we know he's watching, and obits are charged by the word, we'll stop here.
Marshall Buehler lived his many great and textured lives well. Be thankful and celebratory. And remember. Drive Carefully and Look Out For Deer!