Geraldine Wuerslin

Geraldine Wuerslin (nee Hase) passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, at the age of 93.

Born in Minneapolis, to Violet and Herbert Hase, the family moved to Neenah, WI when Gerry was 10 years old. After graduating high school, she attended UW-Madison and received a degree in Education. While at UW, she met her future husband, Manfred Wuerslin and they married in Madison in June 1955.

Following graduation, Gerry pursued her career in education in Waunakee and Manitowoc and in 1958 they moved to Waukesha where they lived and raised their two sons - Ted (Andrea) and Erich (Katie). Gerry will always be remembered as a voracious reader, an avid birder, and friendly and welcoming person.

Gerry’s strong belief in justice and equality is evident in a lifelong pursuit of public service. One of Gerry’s initial involvements in civic affairs was as a co-founder of Escuela Preparatoria para Ninos, a preschool for Spanish-Speaking children.

In 1972 she was the first woman appointed to the Waukesha City Plan Commission. Gerry’s interest in civic involvement included being a city alderperson, as a leading progressive, and Common Council President.

Her passion for environmental issues led Gerry to help write the city ordinance regulating wetland development as well as participate in the Waukesha County Environmental Council. While on the Council, Gerry was involved in many committees including: the Waukesha License and Ordinance Committee, the Waukesha Council on Human Relations and the Waukesha Landmarks Commission.

Gerry’s dedication to justice was evident in her appointment by Governor Lucy to the Regional Justice Planning Committee in 1975. Gerry’s continued passion for justice would lead her to become involved with victim/witness advocacy by joining the staff of the Victim Assistance Support Project in 1979. This grant funded project would, in time, become a permanent part of the Waukesha County District Attorney’s office. Gerry and her staff would assist thousands of victims/witnesses through the court process and became a model for many other programs statewide. Her advocacy helped create positive changes in state legislation for victim/witness rights; eventually this legislation was adopted as an amendment to the Wisconsin State Constitution.

The family would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the Avalon Square staff and Brighton Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

Gerry is survived by her two sons and their spouses, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings and her husband Manfred Wuerslin.

To celebrate Gerry’s life, please join the family in an open house at the Frame Park Rotary Building (1150 Baxter Street, Waukesha) on Friday, November 14th from 1-4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Milwaukee Public Television (www.milwaukeepbs.org) or Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) (www.acap-waukesha.org).