Joe Gaerthofner presented “Appleton’s WWI Heroes” on April 10, 2024 for the Appleton Historical Society.

Joe was raised in Appleton and is a graduate of Xavier High School. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and works in sales at Nordon Business Environments, a local company that was started by his grandfather in 1957. Joe works alongside his father, Jim, and his brother, Andy. Joe has a passion for history, particularly as it relates to Appleton, Wisconsin. Over the years, he has enjoyed writing articles about local history, teaching history to home-school groups, and leading walking tours at Riverside Cemetery in an effort to shine a light on Appleton’s proud military tradition. He and his wife Jen and their son reside in Appleton.