This post is about the Gein Family ancestry, not about the crimes of Ed Gein. The Gein Family lived in Waushara County for forty-two years, and, like it or not, is very much a part of its history.

Surprisingly little has been done on the ancestry of the family, but I now have the answer.

Edward Theodore Gein (1906-1984) was the son of George Gein (1873-1940) and Auguste Lehrke (1877-1945) from La Crosse Co, WI.
Auguste's parents, Frederick Lehrke and Amalia Fregin, were both born in Prussia, and lived in Vernon Co, WI.

Father George Gein was born 'GEORGE GEE,' son of John GEE and Maria Catharine Dingeldein (Dingledine).

John Gee's parents were Merritt GEE and Mary ____ from New York. Maria Catharine Dingledine's parents were George Dingeldein (Dingledine) and Margaret Treusch.

George GEE (Gein) was orphaned at an early age. By 1880 George was adopted and living with his mother's brother, Leonard Dingledine and Leonard's wife in Vernon Co, WI. Soon after his marriage in 1900 George changed his surname from 'GEE' to 'GEIN,' perhaps at the urging of his new wife Auguste.

I have copies of the marriage records for Ed's parents and paternal grandparents to prove all of the above.