Obituary
Gerald Wichmann

Gerald W. Wichmann, 79, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and formerly of Battle Creek, Michigan, died on Dec 7, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief battle with lymphoma. Gerry was born to Werner and Alice Wichmann in Chicago, Illinois on September 19, 1944. He was the 2nd of 4 brothers, whom he loved very much. Gerry studied architecture at Ferris State in Michigan and had a 35-year career in the field. He married and had two children, Stephen and Suzanne. He was later remarried to Barbara, through whom he gained two daughters, Laura and Kay. Together, Gerry and Barbara had their son, Andrew. Gerry was a faithful Christian and a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He was a long-time member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh. In 2016, Gerry and Barb fulfilled their dream of building a cabin in the North Carolina mountains and there they joined Mountainside Lutheran Church in Linville. Gerry devotedly served the church in various roles, including greeter, usher, choir singer, member of numerous leadership committees and volunteer efforts, and church elder. Gerry also enjoyed the social life of the church. He was a mainstay of church softball leagues, holiday celebrations, picnics and dinners, and other church fellowship activities. Gerry could create, build, or fix anything. He designed the last two houses he lived in and spent many Saturdays with his tools building furniture and attending to whatever needed to be maintained. Gerry also loved all things sports, especially the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and White Sox…southside to the end! He played Euchre, kickball, driveway basketball, tennis, the Hulk, and steamroller with his kids and grandkids, and coached their teams. He taught his children the love of Jesus, to do the best they could with what they had, and if you were going to do something, do it right and do it well. Gerry left this earth way too early and will be dearly missed every day. Gerry was preceded in death by his parents, Werner and Alice. He is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Barbara Wichmann, their dog Maggie, and his five children, Stephen (Kristi) Wichmann, Laura (Jeff) Burton, Suzanne (Rick) Wilson, Kay (Levi) Hazen, and Andrew (Cecilia) Wichmann, and grandchildren Trent Burton, Claire Bryant, Emery Burton, Maya Wilson, Eliana Wilson, Rebecca Edwards, Levi Hazen Jr, and Kayle Hazen. He is also survived by his brothers Al (Jennifer) Wichmann, Jim (Doris) Wichmann, and John (Diane) Wichmann and their families. In addition, he is survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Gerry’s family will hold a memorial service on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 3525 Rogers Road, Wake Forest, North Carolina. An additional memorial service with interment will be held at Mountainside Lutheran Church in Linville, North Carolina, at a later date.