Keith "Sir" Or "Gundy" Gundlach

Randolph, Highland - Keith Gundlach (“Sir” or “Gundy”), age 72, passed away on Friday March 29, 2024 at University Hospital in Madison, WI with his brother Marty and two very special guys, Ben Syvertson and Colton Alsum by his side. He was born in Dodgeville, WI on June 5, 1951 to Kenneth and Eileen (Wepking) Gundlach.  He graduated in 1969 from Highland High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and graduated with a degree in Social Studies in 1973 and a degree in Agriculture Education in 1977.

Keith started his teaching career in Randolph in June 1977 and taught for over 42 years retiring in January 2019 due to ALS, which he had for 13 years and two months. He spent a year and a half mentoring new teachers and writing grants for the Ag Department & FFA.  Enrollment grew from 21 students to over 140 students per day. Significant events in his teaching career included the beginning of an exchange program with an Agricultural High School in Graz, Austria, merging classes and FFA’s with Cambria-Friesland High School, having a 40 acre land laboratory donated to the FFA, adding a greenhouse and animal laboratory, establishing an Advisory Council, starting the FFA Alumni and creating the Randolph Agriculture & FFA Foundation.

While teaching, he advised the FFA, the Letter Club for 15 years, established the Booster Club where he served as an officer for over 20 years, created and served as Director of the Elementary/Middle School Foundation, the Fine Arts Foundation, the Athletic Support Foundation, the Scholarship Foundation, the Agriculture & FFA Foundation, and the Columbia County Fair Foundation.  He served as department superintendent at the Dodge and Columbia County Fairs for 42 years. He also served the Agriculture teachers two terms as a vice president and one term as president. Teaching the Leadership class the value of grants, he initiated a fund drive that helped with the outdoor athletic field renovation as well as launched a new gym fund. He served as the RTA President for four terms.

Professional honors and recognition he received include Honorary State FFA Degree-1989, Honorary American FFA Degree-2002, WAAE Outstanding Agriculture Teacher-1999, 2000 and 2001, WAAE Outstanding Agriculture Program-1993, 1997 and 2007, NAAE Outstanding Agriculture Teacher-2001 and 2010, NAAE Outstanding Agriculture Teacher-2001 and 2010, WAAE President 2004-2005, NAAE Outstanding Service Citation 2005-2006, WI FFA Foundation Blue & Gold Society 2005, WI FFA Distinguished Service Award-2006, Herb Kohl Education Foundation Fellowship Award-2006, National FFA SAE Committee Review Team 2008-2019, National FFA SAE Committee Review Team Chair 2014-2019, WI FFA Hall of Fame-2013, NAAE Life Time Achievement Award-2015, Randolph Teacher of the Year 2004, 2010, Randolph Significant Educator Award 2005, 2010, Cambria-Friesland Significant Educator Award 2012, Randolph Citizen of the Year-2010, Community Corn Carnival Parade Marshall-2019, and Columbia County Friend of 4-H-2019.

Keith is survived by his siblings, Marty (Nancy) Gundlach, Highland, Doreen (Charlie) Kratochwill, Highland, Brad Gundlach, Highland, sister-in-law, Mary Jo Gundlach, Mt. Horeb, 11 nieces and nephews: Aaron (Kelli) Gundlach, Carrie (Jason) Nevins, Adam Gundlach, Ryan (Alix Herrman) Gundlach, Kyle (Felicia) Gundlach, Megan (Jeff) Perrin, Rachael (Bill) Wolf, Colin (Melissa Stiles) Kratochwill, Gretchen (Justin) Kratochwill-Jones, Nolan Kratochwill, Jared (Heidi Fredericks) Gundlach and many great nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenny and Eileen, brother Kevin, Sister-in-Law, Ann and nephew Jacob Gundlach.

Visitation for Keith will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Randolph High School 110 Meadowood Drive, Randolph, WI 53956.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Rock Church Cemetery 11031 Rock Church Road, Livingston, WI 53554.

The Randolph Community Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting any donations be made to A.L.S. Research 1919 University Avenue W. Suite 175, St. Paul, MN 55104, checks may be made out to ALS Research Foundation in memory of Keith Gundlach or to the Keith Gundlach Ag learning Center Fund, Randolph High School Attn: FFA and Billie-Jo Brusveen, 110 Meadowood Drive Randolph, WI 53956.

We want to sincerely thank Ben Syvertson, Colton Alsum, Stefanie Moldenhauer and her Epic Care Solutions team, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hospital for their exceptional care.

To say Keith loved his job was an understatement, he absolutely thought the world of his students!