Obit: Mann, Gerald L. Rev. (1944 - 2007)
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Mann, Grosse, Mann, Lambertz, Baldwin, Leiberg, Scherperel, Knechten, Henderson, Steinberger, Nestigen, Irgens, Skatrud

----Source: Gazette (Janesville, Rock County, Wis.) Tuesday June 12, 2007)

Mann, Gerald L. Rev. (28 Oct. 1944 - 5 June 2007)

CHIPPEWA FALLS— The Rev. Gerald L. Mann, 62, of Chippewa Falls, WI, passed away Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at Centre Hospitalier Universitarie in Poitiers, France, following a brief illness. He was born on Oct. 28, 1944, in Sturgeon Bay, to Eileen (Grosse) and Wallace Mann. He graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1962, and received his B.A. from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, where he learned to play the bagpipes. In 1969 he earned his Master of Theology from Boston University School of Theology and became an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church in 1970.

Gerry married Elaine Fox on Aug. 2, 1969, in Granite Falls, NC. He served parishes in Butler/Germantown (Milwaukee); Bethel/La-Grange (Elkhorn, Whitewater); Zion United Methodist Church in Chippewa Falls; and was chaplain of Lakeside Nursing and Rehabilitation for many years. He retired from the United Methodist Church (UMC) in 2006. At the time of his death, he was pastor at North Presbyterian Church in Eau Claire. In the early part of his ministry, he was involved in the camping programs of the UMC. Gerry's ministry included the presentation of many Taize' services while at Lakeside, and later Celtic services at North Presbyterian. Gerry was the Pipe Major of the Chippewa Valley Pipes and Drums; involved in the Chippewa Valley Cultural Association; Alzheimer's Association; and Kiwanis Club; was President of the Community Chorus; and served in many other organizations throughout the years.

He will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Elaine; 2 daughters, Heidi (Tony) Lambertz of Savage, MN, and Janet (John) Baldwin of Pella, IA; brothers, John (Georgene) Mann of Sturgeon Bay and Kenneth (Betty) Mann of Angel's Camp, CA; nieces: Jennifer (Eric) Leiberg, Gwynyth Scherperel, and Nicole Mann; nephews, Jason (Morgan) Mann and James Mann; and foreign exchange children: Michael (Rebecca) Knechten of Cologne, Germany, Graeme Henderson of Glasgow, Scotland, Tatjana Steinberger of Munich, Germany, and Be`ne`dicte Defois of Dax, France.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 15, 2007, at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, with the Revs. Rolf Nestigen, David Irgens, and Roger Skatrud officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls. Friends may call from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel in Chippewa Falls, and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials in Gerry's name may be directed to the Community Foundation of Chippewa; Heyde Center for the Arts; or to North Presbyterian Church in Eau Claire.