Gerald D. Viste

Gerald (Jerry) Delmar Viste died peacefully at his home in Wausau, Wisconsin on Thursday, November 21, 2024. He was 101.

He was born on March 29, 1923, in rural Benton County, Minnesota to Mildred E. (Schwartz) and Martin N. Viste.

After graduating from Foley, Minnesota High School in 1940, he was admitted to Harvard College in Cambridge, Mass. Service in the Army Air Corps during World War II disrupted his studies. He was stationed in England with the Eighth 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 1952-1954 to obtain his MBA. 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:

He served on numerous boards affiliated with educational institutions: Northland College, where he was vice chair and is trustee emeritus; UW 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 U.S.

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, MN, Joyce Hegquist of Elbow Lake, MN., and Jean Jernow of Palm Desert, CA; 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 held at the First Universalist Unitarian Church in Wausau, Wisconsin on Friday, December 13, 2024. Visitation will be at the Church from 12 noon to 2:00 pm, and a service 2:00 pm. Helke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In light of Jerry's passion for serving charities within the community, and to carry on his legacy of helping others, donations to charities of your choice would be greatly appreciated.