Bio: Willger, Fr. Gerard (Farewell - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surname: Willger

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 7/02/2015

‘Everybody’s priest’ says farewell

The line of parish members and well-wishers stretched the length of the Holy Rosary Catholic church sanctuary in two different directions on Sunday morning following the 11 am mass. As he has following every worship service in the last 11-1/4 years, Father Gerard Willger gave his time and his heart to each one in line.

Willger arrived in Medford in March 2004 and added the Whittlesey parish in November of the same year.

Father Willger leaves the community after a successful stint with Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Whittlesey. Willger’s new call will give him a smaller parish at St. Joseph’s (Haryward) and the duties of sacramental minister at St. Ann’s (Cable). He said he looks forward to a lighter load of administrative responsibilities and meetings.

It will also take him closer to his family’s home. He has always returned home once a week to help on the family farm and now he will be 45 minutes away, instead of two hours, from his mother.