"Wow, so sorry for your loss. I bet he was a gentle man. I knew of a few people that had this disease and they just went quick. I hope that he didn't suver that long. I think he reminds me of a family member. Maybe related. Some how? I was a Gokey. "
In loving memory of
Phillip Edward Gokey
July 23, 1931 - November 22, 2017
Phillip Edward Gokey, age 86, died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer Wednesday
November 22nd, 2017 under the tender care provided by the Madison VA Hospital Community
Living Center Hospice.
Phil was born in 1931 in Prairie du Chien to Peter and Levina [St Jacque] Gokey, as the youngest of
9 and already an uncle! After graduating high school in 1949, he joined the Navy and served aboard
ship from 1951 to 1955 primarily as radar operator in the Pacific on a Destroyer Escort. He
received 7 battle stars during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1955.
Then he attended UW Madison, graduating with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He met his former
spouse, Mary LaDuke, at school and raised his family and a hodgepodge of animals on a hobby
farm in Whitewater WI. After retirement, he returned to live in Madison where he met his partner,
Jan Hagen, enjoyed ballroom dancing, and volunteered at Olbrich Gardens and the Madison voting
polls.
Phil lived a rich life filled with many interests and a never-ending quest for learning, inventing, and
trying new things. A few of his interests included hunting, fishing, canoeing, gardening, beekeeping,
boxing, playing guitar, square dancing, running, reading, writing, and cooking. He loved returning
to Prairie du Chien to visit his hometown, fish the banks of the Mississippi, and eat at Pete's
hamburger stand which was started in 1909 by his father. As the family historian he spent years
researching, collecting, and compiling genealogical records. Some of his elaborate and artistic
extended family tree drawings are on display in the Fort Crawford Museum in Prairie du Chien.
He is survived by his children Matt (Faith) and their children Cybil and Ben, Sarah Yao (James),
Ben (Elise) and baby Marc, and Aaron (Lillie); his domestic partner and dance partner Jan Hagen,
and their dog Bruno.
A modest celebration of life memorial service will be held December 9th at Lake Edge Lutheran
Church in Madison WI. Visitation at 9:30, service at 11:00 with light lunch to follow. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Olbrich Botanical Gardens, The Spinal CSF Leak
Foundation, or the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.
Tributes
"I am so sad to hear of the passing of your father. I will alway remember the times that I spent with you guys. Your parents would hire me to feed the animals (rabbits, chickens, pigs, goats etc.) when you would go on Vacations. I remember coming do and cleaning the barn with my dad's tractor and spreader. Also the 50 cents an hour baby sitting jobs when your mom and dad would go square dancing.They even took me a couple of time. I think of your family often. And yes Ben I remember the time that you work for me on the farm for 3.00 an hour. Those were great times. I will cherish them for ever. Gary"
"I am so sorry to hear of Phil's passing. I spoke to Phil at length a while back about our French genealogy and another time later on about his latest genealogy venture. Phil was very proud of his children and their successes. He was so fun to talk to! We were cousins, my grandmother was Mabel St. Jacque, my father, George Bautsch who traveled to PDC almost every weekend when he was a child. I can recall vividly family gatherings in PDC when I was little, lots of cousins!! I met up with Phil again when he came to La Crosse for Jim Gokey's funeral. I thanked Phil, profusely, for the wonderful French Family Book he put together. I am lucky enough to have one of the hard copies of it. Phil will be missed by many; he was such an intelligent, interesting and incredibly kind man. With sympathy, Kent and Julie(Bautsch) Bacon La Crosse, WI"
"My dad was Bill Bautsch and died in 2014. Lila stood up for my parents wedding in 1949. They knew and often spoke of what a nice guy, Philly, your father was to them."
"Matt, Sarah, Ben, Aaron, and family, I am very sorry that your Dad died. Fathers are special people. Sincerely, Your teacher, Dirk Seibold"