Maynard Teach

Maynard Teach passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the age of 89. Maynard was born on August 29, 1935, to the late Ellery and Grace (Cook) Teach who were both managers and later owners of Sunrise Orchards. Maynard grew up active in Boy Scout Troop 80 and after graduation from Gays Mills High School married Janet Lee, also of Gays Mills, on November 19, 1955. After assuming leadership from his father, Maynard expanded the orchard's production and sales with additional acreage, dwarf trees, and many, many hours of labor. Many setbacks were endured including hailstorms and freezes, but Sunrise still made significant progress under his guidance. Maynard was a well-known apple grower both in the Midwest and as a member of the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association. He attended, as well as hosted, many of their apple growing tours both in the US and abroad. In retirement Maynard still kept a watchful eye and interest in the orchard and handled the crop on his Yale forklift stacking harvested apples in cold storage rooms.

Although apple growing was Maynard's prime passion in life, snowmobiling and especially boating were as well. Over the years, he had seen most of the Midwest and the Rocky Mountains from the seat of a snowmobile. Maynard had a keen sense of direction and never seemed to get lost or run out of fuel even in the mountains. Boating for Maynard was where the real adventure began for him with many trips across Lake Michigan (of course to visit apple growers), down the Mississippi then returning back up the Illinois River through Chicago, and in the Florida Keys. In his later years, boating for him had a quieter side on the Mississippi near Lansing, Iowa. Many good times were had on backwater bald eagle watching trips, beach time with his ever-present American Water Spaniel, or watching Packer and Badger games with friends and family on their boat at the marina. The river and river life were Maynard's happy place in his later years.

Maynard is survived by his steadfast and loving wife, Janet, who was by Maynard's side for all the orchard, travel, snowmobiling, and boating adventures. They were married for 67 years and had three children: Allen Teach (Monica), Wendy (Brad) Pettit, and Laurie Oppriecht, 8 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by his siblings, Ronald (Rose) Teach and Pamela Dalton, his loyal canine companion, Buddy, and numerous extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Kevin Oppriecht; daughter-in-law, Lynne Teach.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gays Mills Fire Department, North Crawford Scholarship Fund, or Friends of Mississippi River Pool 9 in Maynard's memory.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Luther Memorial Church in Gays Mills. Pastor Carrie Anderson will officiate. A visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Maynard will be laid to rest at the Gays Mills Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at Sunrise Orchards near Gays Mills.

Vosseteig Funeral Home & Crematory in Gays Mills is serving Maynard's family.

325 Sunset Ridge Avenue

Gays Mills, WI 54631

(608) 735-2100