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Gerald Viste Obituary
Gerald (Jerry) Delmar Viste died peacefully at his home in Wausau, Wisconsin, Nov. 21, 2024. He was 101.
He was born March 29, 1923, in rural Benton County to Mildred E. (Schwartz) and Martin N. Viste.
After graduating from Foley High School in 1940, he was admitted to Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Service in the Army Air Corps during World War II disrupted his studies. He was stationed in England with the 8th Air Force and earned the rank of captain. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross thanks to his efforts leading a B-17 crew of 10 men, flying 28 combat missions across Europe.
After graduating from Harvard in 1947, he married Marion (Barney) Churchill Muller, a person he said, "changed my life." She preceded him in death in 2002. They were married for 55 years.
In 1947, Jerry joined Employers Mutual Insurance Co., of Wausau (eventually renamed Wausau Insurance Company). He worked in the company's Los Angeles office for five years before he returned to Harvard Business School in 1952-54 to obtain his Master of Business Administration. After graduation in 1954, he returned to Employers Mutual and moved to Wausau, purchasing the house on McIndoe Street where he lived for the rest of his life.
He spent his entire working life with Wausau Insurance, ultimately serving as president. Jerry brought his business acumen and his passion for Wisconsin's history, culture and civic life to leadership roles in countless organizations, all of which, strive to bring people together and make life better.
A small sampling of those efforts include: He served on numerous boards affiliated with educational institutions: Northland College, where he was vice chair and is trustee emeritus; University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Academy of Science and Letters, where he was president; UW Stevens Point Foundation, president and trustee emeritus; the Wausau School District Planning Council; and the Governor's Council on Business and Education Partnerships.
He was deeply invested in the Wisconsin Idea, founded on the principle that new knowledge should be dedicated to improving the quality of life for all of the state's citizens, from health, to the environment, to work and education, recreation and cultural enrichment. Jerry was president of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; of the Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation; of the United Way of Marathon County, the Wausau Child Care Foundation, the Performing Arts Foundation of Wausau. He served as director of the Wausau Hospital Center and vice president of the Marathon County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
His great passion for history brought him to leadership roles with organizations dedicated to the belief that knowing our history is crucial for planning a better future: He served as president of Marathon County's Historical Society as well as its Genealogical Society, as treasurer and president of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and director of the Wisconsin History Foundation. He was a founding member of the Wisconsin Humanities Council, also serving as the council's first chair. He was also president of the 351st Bomb Group Association of the 8th Air Force, spending a great deal of time documenting the activities of the group and its members during World War II.
His love of reading, music, and natural history occupied much of his free time, particularly at his cabin on Bearskin Creek, "Up North.' He also enjoyed taking road trips with family and friends in Wisconsin and throughout the United States.
He is survived by: his three children, Deborah S.Wetter, John C. Viste (Elaine Strite) and Nathan B.Viste-Ross (Louise); sisters, Ruth Kothman of Foley, Joyce Hegquist of Elbow Lake, and Jean Jernow of Palm Desert, California; and by five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Siblings, Nordean W. Viste, David G. Viste and Arlene D. Lunneborg; and son-in-law, Gerald F. Wetter preceded him in death.
Services will be Friday, Dec. 13, at the First Universalist Unitarian Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. Visitation will be noon to 2 p.m. at the church, with a 2 p.m. service. Helke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
He was born March 29, 1923, in rural Benton County to Mildred E. (Schwartz) and Martin N. Viste.
After graduating from Foley High School in 1940, he was admitted to Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Service in the Army Air Corps during World War II disrupted his studies. He was stationed in England with the 8th Air Force and earned the rank of captain. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross thanks to his efforts leading a B-17 crew of 10 men, flying 28 combat missions across Europe.
After graduating from Harvard in 1947, he married Marion (Barney) Churchill Muller, a person he said, "changed my life." She preceded him in death in 2002. They were married for 55 years.
In 1947, Jerry joined Employers Mutual Insurance Co., of Wausau (eventually renamed Wausau Insurance Company). He worked in the company's Los Angeles office for five years before he returned to Harvard Business School in 1952-54 to obtain his Master of Business Administration. After graduation in 1954, he returned to Employers Mutual and moved to Wausau, purchasing the house on McIndoe Street where he lived for the rest of his life.
He spent his entire working life with Wausau Insurance, ultimately serving as president. Jerry brought his business acumen and his passion for Wisconsin's history, culture and civic life to leadership roles in countless organizations, all of which, strive to bring people together and make life better.
A small sampling of those efforts include: He served on numerous boards affiliated with educational institutions: Northland College, where he was vice chair and is trustee emeritus; University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Academy of Science and Letters, where he was president; UW Stevens Point Foundation, president and trustee emeritus; the Wausau School District Planning Council; and the Governor's Council on Business and Education Partnerships.
He was deeply invested in the Wisconsin Idea, founded on the principle that new knowledge should be dedicated to improving the quality of life for all of the state's citizens, from health, to the environment, to work and education, recreation and cultural enrichment. Jerry was president of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; of the Robert E. Gard Wisconsin Idea Foundation; of the United Way of Marathon County, the Wausau Child Care Foundation, the Performing Arts Foundation of Wausau. He served as director of the Wausau Hospital Center and vice president of the Marathon County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
His great passion for history brought him to leadership roles with organizations dedicated to the belief that knowing our history is crucial for planning a better future: He served as president of Marathon County's Historical Society as well as its Genealogical Society, as treasurer and president of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and director of the Wisconsin History Foundation. He was a founding member of the Wisconsin Humanities Council, also serving as the council's first chair. He was also president of the 351st Bomb Group Association of the 8th Air Force, spending a great deal of time documenting the activities of the group and its members during World War II.
His love of reading, music, and natural history occupied much of his free time, particularly at his cabin on Bearskin Creek, "Up North.' He also enjoyed taking road trips with family and friends in Wisconsin and throughout the United States.
He is survived by: his three children, Deborah S.Wetter, John C. Viste (Elaine Strite) and Nathan B.Viste-Ross (Louise); sisters, Ruth Kothman of Foley, Joyce Hegquist of Elbow Lake, and Jean Jernow of Palm Desert, California; and by five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Siblings, Nordean W. Viste, David G. Viste and Arlene D. Lunneborg; and son-in-law, Gerald F. Wetter preceded him in death.
Services will be Friday, Dec. 13, at the First Universalist Unitarian Church in Wausau, Wisconsin. Visitation will be noon to 2 p.m. at the church, with a 2 p.m. service. Helke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Benton County News from Dec. 9 to Dec. 10, 2024.
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