Gil Rodencal, age 91 passed away at The Pines on Tuesday, February 24, 2015. He was born May 2, 1923 in Berlin WI, the son of Harry and Mary Rodencal. Gil graduated from Berlin, WI High School in 1942 and went on to attend Stevens Point State College, and finished his degree at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. On July 19, 1945 he married the love of his life, Anita Loshinski in California while he was on leave from being deployed in the Far East Theater. They were married again at St. Aloysius in Sauk City, WI in 1956.

After the end of the football season at Stevens Point he enlisted in the Army Air Corp. rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant as a radar operator on a B-29. He flew in 45 missions. After a mission over Japan, the plane took flack over Nagasaki and the crew was forced to parachute over China to start a harrowing experience over the next few weeks to return to Allied lines.

After the war, he went back to school at UW Madison commuting from the military housing at Badger. Going to school under the GI Bill he was required to go thru testing and counseling to help pick his major. To keep his benefits, he was recommended to go into a "people related field". He ended up choosing teaching where he touched the lives of thousands of students and athletes for the next 38 years.

His first teaching job was at Oconto HS where he was assistant basketball and football coach for 4 years. From there he went to Cedar Grove where he filled the head coaching jobs in basketball, football and baseball. He moved to Prairie du Sac in 1954 where he taught math and coached basketball, golf and football. After high school consolidation, he started an aviation class to share his love of flying with his students (yes, the airplane in the garage did finally get built). He coached until his retirement in 1986.

During the summer break he worked as superintendent of Lake Wisconsin CC and in 1963 volunteered to design and build the front nine in exchange for a $100 stock certificate. Orchestrating an effort based on mostly donated time and supplies, he built the course for $27,000. Having never built a golf course before he did what he was best at: learning from others, working with what he had, and creating something beautiful from his wits and sweat. At Christmas time, the driveway and street in front of his home was always filled with the cars of his children who never missed a Christmas. Anita and Gil celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a large party for friends and relatives in 2005.

He is survived by his sister, Jean Turner of Berlin WI; his daughters, Sandra (Roy) Becker of Red Bud IL, Helen (Eric) Irwin of Salem IL, Mary (Phil) Schwarz of Prairie du Sac, WI; and his son Jeff (Wendy) Rodencal of Marietta GA. Gil was lucky enough to be succeeded by eight grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and 3 great-greats.

He was preceded in death by his wife Anita on August 9, 2006; a brother John and sisters Alice Mumma and Bunny Sorenson and his grandson Tony Becker.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, Feb 27, 2015 at HOOVERSON FUNERAL HOME, 251 Water St., Sauk City. A committal service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, Feb 28, 2015 at the Prairie du Sac Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Lachmund-Cramer VFW Post 7694.