Michael A. Gautsch, 41, died September 19, 1989, in his home in Long Beach, CA.  Mike was born & raised in La Crosse.

His college education was interrupted by military service in the Army.  He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and served 15 months in Vietnam.

From 1971 until his death, he made his home in CA.  He graduated from U of C - Berkeley with a degree in psychology and later enrolled in graduate classes in industrial psychology and business.  Mike was employed by Hughes Aircraft and, more recently, by Northrop Corp. as a property manager.  He was active in the National Property Management Association, a professional organization, and taught classes in his field.

Mike was an avid gardener and took great pleasure in his flowers.  Although he was able to grow a wide variety of flowers year-round in CA, he always missed the springtime lilacs and peonies of WI.  Mike was well known by friends and neighbors for his garden parties.

Mike will be dearly missed for his unflappable spirit, his ready wit, his charm, and his courage throughout his illness. A memorial service celebrating his life was held in his garden and his ashes were scattered beneath his roses.

He is survived by his lifelong friend and former wife, Ellen Ristow, his life partner, Daniel Armendarez, his brother and friend, Joe; his sisters, Mary Ann Melloh, Therese Gautsch and Catherine Desmond and his brothers Phil, Jim and Tom.  His parents, Margaret nd Julius Gautsch, preceded him in death.