Gerald H. Wallace

Gerald H. “Jerry” Wallace, 90, passed through to Heaven on Independence Day, July 4, 2014. After saying goodbyes here, he joined Juanita, his wife of 71 years, who passed on June 5, 2014. Together again! Born July 24, 1923, in Richland Center, Wis., to Lewis and Grace Wallace. With three brothers and two sisters, they lived on rented farms in Wisconsin. He went to a one-room school, but graduated from Richland Center High School. He moved in with brother, Mervin, and worked at Eden Fruit in Poplar Grove, Ill. Later, he worked at Rockford Screw Products. Through friends, he met Juanita Jean Whitford and fell in love. They were to marry on Valentine’s Day, but he got called to World War II and they married on Feb. 3, 1943, in Richland Center. He went to radio operator school in Indiana, then to California, Florida, Hawaii and Iwo Jima. He was a corporal in the 384th Signal Corps, assigned to the 386th Air Service Group. They visited by train, then, wrote many letters and poems. When he returned, his family life was in Loves Park. He worked at Woodward Governor Company (lab machine shop and waterwheel assembly) for 35 years. She worked at Davewood Supply. The family grew to be six with Gary, Marcia, Jill and Brian. Life was good, with a close neighborhood, grandmother up the street, Bethany Presbyterian church and summers visiting Lake Ripley, Wis. Jerry liked fishing and waterskiing and driving his boat for others to ski. He and Juanita did some square dancing and enjoyed card club with friends. He golfed and bowled with friends, achieving a hole-in-one at Atwood, no. 17, and league bowling a 287. Jerry also considered car buying a sport. He enjoyed Woodward Retirees, YMCA Senior Men’s Club and attending Harlemites breakfasts with Juanita. In retirement, they travelled – often with friends. They followed adventure to China, Australia and New Zealand. Followed ancestry to England, Scotland and Norway. Followed warmth to Florida, Cancun, Bahamas and Hawaii. They drove the North Pass and South Pass of the Grand Canyon and cruised to Alaska. However, most vacations were to summer homes at Lake Ripley and Lake Mills, Wis., for more than 50 years. Wesley Willows was their home for seven years – the duplex on Willows Lane, then apartment at the Arbor.

Now they are together once again in Heaven. They are survived by son, Gary (Alice) Wallace and their children, Mark (Shannon) Wallace with sons, Bryson and Garret, and Melissa (Aaron) Stein with children, Makayla and Mason; daughter, Marcia (LaVerne) Johnson and their daughters, Karissa (Tim) Dooley with daughters, Miranda and Melanie, and Kia (Steve) Marlin with children, Angela and Joshua; daughter, Jill (Jim) Atchison with sons, Collin (Laura) Atchison and Chris Atchison(Morgan); son, Brian (Kelly) Wallace and daughter, Caitlin and pooch, Tater; sister, Leona (Gordon) Nundahl of Boscobel, Wis.; and loyal friend, Bob (Eleanor) Lantz. Thanks to the kind, caring staff at Wesley Willows and to Northern Illinois Hospice.

Funeral service at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at Sunset Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bob Saunders officiating. Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 12, and from 3 p.m. to service time Sunday. Entombment at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Any memorial gifts may be made to Wesley Willows Good Samaritan Endowment or to Northern Illinois Hospice.