Posted: 12.06.2010

The family that hosted the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days show has lost its patriarch.

Saturday evening, Budd Gerrits, 69, passed away after a long illness. 

Gerrits family hosted the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days show under the theme, "Agriculture - A Lifestyle, A Livelihood" to mixed weather.  The show started off with warm, dry weather, but was cut short because of torrential rainfall and high winds.

Budd said he always regretted not getting a chance to fulfill the show dates all the way through because he had so many friends and family members that he wanted to see the event.  Budd and his wife, Ione, along with sons Tom and Mike, and their families - all worked side by side on the farm to prepare for the show.

 

Country Aire Farms wasn't just host to WI Farm Technology Days.  Budd had been named an Outstanding Young Farmer, had hosted the Brown County Breakfast on the Farm, Night on the Farm, and was a Master Agriculturist.

Budd is survived by his wife, Ione Gerrits; children, Thomas (Anne) Gerrits, Carolyn (William) Waring, Michael (Cindy) Gerrits and Julie (Michael) Fischer; grandchildren, Cassaundra (fiance, Jon), Nicholas, Craig, Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Megan, Melissa, Jonathan, Lindsey and Claire. Budd is further survived by his sister, Mary Ellen (Floyd) Klister; brother, Dan (Sharon) Gerrits.

Visitation for Budd will be Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 305 N. Tenth St., De Pere, from 3 to 8 p.m. Prayer service at 3 p.m. Visitation will continue Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, at St. Clare Parish-St. Pat's Church, Askeaton site, from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. with Fr. Al Geiser presiding. Burial will be in church cemetery. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the Gerrits family.

Memorials are appreciated to American Cancer Society.

« back to news articles