Gerald Wise

PEKIN - Gerald "Gerry" Wise, 70, of Pekin passed away at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, at the Pekin Hospital emergency room.

Born Dec. 27, 1942, in Peoria to Warren Eugene and Dorothy (Barrett) Wise, he married Dorothy Clara Lanman on May 25, 1967, in Charleston.

Surviving are his wife; one son, Gerald W. Wise of Macomb; one daughter, Heather R. Wise of Pekin; two granddaughters, Cora R. Bolds and Ali S. Rangel, both of Pekin; and his twin sister, Geraldine "Jeri" (Robert) Mangold of Lacon.

His parents and stepfather, Roy Wisner, preceded him death.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. A graduate of Woodruff High School in Peoria, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. While attending graduate school at EIU, he taught sixth grade at Charleston School.

Gerry entered the field of insurance in 1969, working as a life manager for Travelers Insurance in Peoria. He was later transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1978, he began his career with Pekin Insurance in the life sales department as an advanced underwriter. He advanced to life marketing manager in 1982 and was named to vice president of life marketing and promoted to staff management status in February 1988. He retired from Pekin Insurance on April 1, 2008, after 30 years of dedicated service.

Following his retirement, Gerry owned and operated Fairview Insurance Agency in Fairview. Striving for expertise in the insurance industry, Gerry earned his CLU, Chartered Life Underwriter, designation. A staunch supporter of life insurance, he earned a Silver Key Award and Gold Key Award and was a one-year member of the Inner Circle Club for Pekin Insurance.

He was a member of the Cuba Masonic Lodge 534 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; and the Mohammed Temple Shrine in Bartonville. He had served on the Tazewell County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission.

Gerry enjoyed hunting and fishing.

His memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Peoria Friendship House, 800 Northeast Madison Avenue, Peoria, IL 61603, or to the American Heart Association, Memorial and Tributes Lock Box, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.