by Eugene Woller Obituary, Death – In Merrill, Wisconsin, on June 24, 1946, Eugene Woller was born to Mildred (Wendt) and Leonard Woller. Eugene was confirmed in his Christian faith and baptized in Trinity Lutheran Church in Berlin. He grew up working on the family farm as a seasoned rock picker and hay bailer, where he also acquired a strong appreciation of the great outdoors. He attended the one-room Naugart and Monroe Grade Schools for his elementary schooling.
He attended Wausau (East) High School, participated in Future Farmers of America activities, and graduated in 1964. After graduating, he took a UW-Madison farm short course where he learned about beekeeping and discovered an interest that would last a lifetime. On August 12, 1967, Eugene wed Donna Mae Sturm, his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, at Grace Lutheran Church (WELS), Village of Maine.
They relocated to the Madison region, where they started to create their shared life. They were founding members of the St. Andrew Lutheran Church (WELS), which was founded more than 50 years ago in Middleton, Wisconsin as a mission church. In addition to his role as a church Elder, Eugene actively served his Lord and Savior in a number of other ways. Eugene constantly nurtured bees while working multiple jobs to support his family, and together with Donna, this passion eventually grew into Gentle Breeze Honey, Inc.
One of the locations where Eugene fascinated consumers with the wonders of honeybees and sold honey for more than 50 years was the Dane County Farmer’s Market. He was a wonderful mentor and instructor of beekeeping to many, and he inspired everyone with his enthusiasm and expertise. Selling Gentle Breeze Honey to their son Tim and daughter-in-law Cathy was a very enjoyable way for Eugene and Donna to enter retirement.
Eugene and Donna traveled extensively around the United States, Colombia, Australia, Europe, Brazil, Kenya, and China due to their love of exploration and adventure. A particularly memorable excursion was a family heritage tour that their great friend DuWayne Zamzow guided in 2014. They made numerous new friends along the road and visited loved ones in each of these locations.
Donna, Eugene’s devoted wife of 55 years from Mount Horeb, is left behind. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy (Cathy) Woller of Mount Horeb and their children, Spencer (Kayla), Stuart (Reilly), Raymond, and Christopher; Dr. Tamara Woller-Li (Dr. Richard Li) of Naperville, Illinois and their children, Nyah, Jaden, and Makaelynn; brother Denvert Woller; sisters Janet Hanke, Joyce Plaza, and Anita Woller; and nine grandchildren have been born to Brothers Kenneth and Gordon, sister Beatrice Marquardt, parents Leonard and Mildred Woller, in-laws Harry and Hilda Sturm, brothers Lyle Marquardt, Vern Hanke, Norm Plaza, and Earl Woller, as well as sisters-in-law Elida and Patsy Woller, preceded Eugene in death.
