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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Gerhard “Gerry” W. Franzmann
1918-2016
Gerhard
“Gerry” W. Franzmann entered glory with Christ at the
age of 97 at Heritage Homes in Watertown on Saturday, March 12, 2016. Gerry was
born on Aug. 21, 1918, in Lake City, Minn., to William and Else Franzmann and was the youngest of nine children. Funeral
services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in
Watertown with the Rev. Brett Brauer officiating.
Relatives and friends may gather at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until
the time of the service. Burial will be in the Oak Hill
Cemetery in Watertown at a later date. Hafemeister
Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Watertown is serving the family. Online
condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.
Gerry
was baptized in August of 1918, and when he was 4 years old, the family moved
to Stillwater, Minn. There he was confirmed in April of 1932 and attended both
elementary school and high school. He then attended the Wisconsin Synod’s Northwestern
College in Watertown, graduating in 1941.
In 1944
Gerry graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Thiensville/Mequon, and
married the former Marion Maltz in Watertown. He
started his pastoral career at New London, and after a year, he served Lutheran
congregations in Dale, Fort Atkinson, Seattle, Wash., and Wauwatosa, before
joining the faculty at Northwestern
Preparatory School and College in Watertown in 1959; later retiring in 1994
at 76 years old.
Gerry is
survived by a sister-in-law Patricia (Carl) Franzmann,
New York; many stepchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was
preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Marion (Maltz),
who died in 1983; his second wife, Bernetta
(Coughlin), who died in 1999; his third wife, Eleonore (Cares) who died in
2016; and siblings Ernst, Werner, Martin, Carl, Renata (Carl) Thiel, Elfrieda (Raymond) Walstrom,
Helen (Arthur) Katt and William.
Confirmation
verse: For the mountains shall depart,
and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither
shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the
LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10. KJV
Gerry
enjoyed sharing his Christian faith, daily devotions, long-lasting friendships
from Northwestern College, teaching, preaching, singing in various groups and
church choir, married life, his home on the Rock River, traveling, exploring
the back roads of Wisconsin in his VW automobiles, camping at state parks in
his VW Vanagon, presenting slides of his trips,
riding his bike, one martini a day, one dark chocolate a day before it became
the healthy thing to do, staying fit, gourmet dining, reading, challenging
crossword puzzles and puns. If Gerry had a motto it would be “live simply,
enjoy fully.
“Rest in
peace Uncle, you’ve done the family proud.”
Memorials
may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, 604 S. Fifth St., Watertown; Heritage
Homes or Rainbow Hospice.
The
family greatly appreciates and would like to thank the pastors of Trinity
Lutheran Church, the staff at Heritage Homes as well as Rainbow Hospice Care
for their dedicated and exceptional care.
Hafemeister Funeral
Home and Cremation Service 611 E. Main St. Watertown
History of Watertown, Wisconsin