Blanchardville - Gerald Gene Cork, age 79, passed away at his home on Thursday, July 23, 2015. Gerald, the son of Donald and Clemmie (Calvert) Cork, was born on April 5, 1936 in Platteville, Wisconsin. Gerald grew up on the family farm in Barneveld. He loved sports and was the first athlete at Barneveld High School to letter in all sports (basketball, baseball and football). After graduating in 1954, he briefly attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and then joined the United States Air Force. Gerald and his wife, Brenda (Burridge), recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. They were married on June 27, 1959 at St. Michaels of Tokyngton Parish, Middlesex, England. While in the Air Force, Gerald and Brenda were stationed in London, England, Biloxi, Mississippi and Verona, Italy. After completing 13 years of military service, Gerald and Brenda moved to Belleville, Wisconsin. Gerald worked at Gisholt Machine Company until it closed and then at The Bruce Company. He was a very talented and creative man. He loved coin and stamp collecting as well as finding and restoring antiques. His talent and ideas were endless. In 1983, Gerald and Brenda opened The Corkboard, an antique and coin business in New Glarus. His love of coin collecting spanned over 50 years and began when he was stationed in England. After many years with The Corkboard, Gerald and Brenda closed the business in 2001. They moved to Blanchardville, Wisconsin. Despite being out of the business, Gerald and Brenda continued their love and appreciation of antiques and collectibles. Besides going to garage sales, collecting and restoring anything, Gerald loved fishing, camping, NASCAR races, the Green Bay Packers and the Badgers. Gerald is survived by his wife, Brenda, and his three children, Debbie (Scott) Allen, Vicki (Phillip) Collas, and Allen (Amy) Cork. His legacy includes eight grandchildren who loved him very much. From oldest to youngest: Brenna MacDonald, Zachary Allen, Jennifer Allen, Luke Collas, Noah Cork, Nicholas Cork, Trey Cork and Eve Cork. Gerald is further survived by his sister, Eva Nell (Donald) Arneson of Barneveld, and his sister-in-law, Betty Goke of Belleville. Further survivors include many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Clemmie Cork; brothers Rodger Cork, Robert Cork, Charles Goke, Ronald Goke, Donald Cork, Jr. and Arlyn Cork; sister Lucille (Goke) McSherry; sisters-in-law Esther Goke, Genevieve Cork, and June Burridge; brothers-in-law Kenneth McSherry and Bill Burridge. A celebration of Gerald's life will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank all of Gerald's doctors and care givers for their kind compassion and caring over the years. The family would also like to thank Monroe Home Health for their dedicated and caring service, and in the final stage of Gerald's life, for the assistance and caring by Monroe Clinic Hospice.