January 28, 1963 - June 10, 2023
Anthony “Tony” Girres, age 60, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023, as the result of a recreational vehicle accident. Funeral services are tentatively set for 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 19. Burial will take place at West Bend Cemetery. Visitation is tentatively set for 4 - 7 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Services will be livestreamed on Lentz Funeral Home’s website. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of West Bend.
Anthony Cornelius Girres was born on Jan. 28, 1963, to Ronald C. and Judith Ann (Gerber) Girres. Tony was a life-long resident of West Bend, attending Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduating from West Bend High School in 1981. Tony grew up on the family farm, learning the trade from his father and grandfather, Eli Gerber.
On June 19, 1982, Tony married the love of his life, Annette Harms at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in West Bend. Together they raised their three children on the Gerber family farm, farming with Tony’s father and grandfather. Farming was Tony’s life and John Deere green was his favorite color. His hobbies and activities revolved around planting and harvesting. And he took pride in keeping his homestead and fields in tip-top condition.
Tony loved to hunt and helped organize pheasant and deer hunts for friends and family. But his passion was snowmobiling and he belonged to several snowmobile clubs, often taking trips in the winter months to enjoy trails in other states. Tony shared his love of snowmobiling with his wife, children, and most recently with his grandchildren. He was a born mentor and enjoyed teaching the younger generation the mechanics of snowmobiles and side by sides. There wasn’t much he couldn’t fix. Tony and Annette were blessed with eleven grandchildren, who were Tony’s pride and joy. He enjoyed watching their sporting events, teaching them about snowmobiling, giving them rides and just being together.
Tony never knew a stranger and he could talk to anyone. He was the first to volunteer when a neighbor needed help or the community was putting on an event. He preferred to work in the background cooking, socializing, and doing whatever was needed. He was dependable, hard-working, and loved by all who knew him. Tony and Annette’s hospitality is also well known, and their shop is a regular gathering place for family and friends.
Tony was a life-long member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (now Divine Mercy Parish), and served on the parish finance board. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as a past Grand Knight. He continued to volunteer for the KC’s up to the time of his death.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 41 years, Annette; children: Andrea (Jordan) Berte and their children, Brooklyn, Wyatt, Zach and Luke of Livermore; Dustin (Jenny) Girres and their children Max, Eli, Cal and Kip of West Bend; Kayla (Ross) Winkelhorst and their children Jax, Tate, and Ava of West Bend. He is also survived by his parents, Ron and Judy Girres, his mother-in-law, Bonnie Harms; his six siblings: Julie (Roger) Krug of New Braunfels, Texas; his twin sister Angela (Bruce) Helleseth of West Bend; Andrew (Connie) Girres of Sergeant Bluff; Nancy (Bobby) Girres of Timnath, Colo.; David (Robin) Girres of West Bend; and Jennifer (Jason) Wirtz of Ankeny; sister-in-law, Sherrie Wagner, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
Tony was preceded in death by his grandparents, Eli and Pearl (Alt) Gerber, Dick and Bernadine (Yoch) Girres, his father-in-law, Jim Harms and his brother-in-law, Kerry Wagner.