Gail Herwerden

GAIL ANNETTE HERWERDEN (nee Wishner) age 70, was taken Home to Jesus on July 6, 2026. She is survived by her beloved husband of 46 years, David N. Herwerden; her children Lindsay Baker (William), David E. Herwerden (Amanda) and Nathaniel Herwerden; her grandchildren Mallory, David Mason and Olivia Herwerden, Evelyn and William Baker; her sisters Lisa Latimer (Darrel), Judy Turchan (Steve), Robin Bloch (Douglas) and Dawn DeWerth (Marc). She was a beloved Aunt, Great Aunt and cousin of many and dear friend of all. She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Ann Wishner (nee Wheeler), niece Georgeanne DeWerth and nephew Dylan Herwerden.

Gail lived by her favorite Bible verse, Romans 13:15 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. All who knew her knew she embodied this verse as she lived her life full of joy in Christ and was hopeful in her Lord and Savior until the very end.

Born on Jan. 25, 1956, to Earl and Ann Wisher, she was the oldest of 5 girls. She grew up in Brook Park and Middleburg Heights graduating from Midpark High School in 1974. Gail met her future husband, David, while in high school through the Brookpark Church of the Brethren Youth group where she attended church and was baptized. She attended Manchester College and graduated from Bowling Green University in 1978 with a degree in education. She went on to teach at Parmadale School. Gail married Dave on November 17, 1979 on her favorite kind of day, unseasonably warm. Gail had three children, Lindsay, David, and Nate and decided to leave her teaching career to take care of her family. She used her teaching degree again when she homeschooled her children for 13 years. While homeschooling her children, she enjoyed playdates with her nieces and nephews, going to the zoo, and vacations to Mackinaw and East Harbor. After her children were out of the house, Gail’s greatest joy was her grandchildren, always willing to watch them and have them over for sleepovers. In their retirement years together, she relished riding on the back of Dave’s motorcycle through the Metroparks and getting ice cream from Mitchell’s. Gail went to as many of her grandkids’ concerts and sporting events as she could, from flag football to college softball games. She was also an avid fan of the Indians and held out hope for a World Series Championship this year. She loved to puzzle, sharing them with her sisters and scrap booking where she chronicled her family’s adventures together. She delighted in a close bond with all four of her sisters and their families and also enjoyed Dave’s four brothers and their families. Not a lover of traveling, she was still fond of going on cruises, adventuring to the Holy Land, traveling to see family in Michigan, and camping with Dave and her grandkids. Gail was an active member at Grace CMA Church and participated in bible studies and Latte with Ladies. Gail enjoyed volunteering at Jaars in North Carolina and the Adventure Learning Center in Nassau, Bahamas; most recently she spent the most time helping at Audrey’s Outreach in Brook Park because she felt it had a large impact on her community. She found pleasure in being outside during the hot summer weather and would have adored the weather on the day she went home to be with Jesus.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Gail, contributions can be made to Audrey’s Outreach, 16845 Holland Road, Brook Park, Ohio 44142 (www.audreysoutreach.org) or the Adventure Learning Center Nassau - (https://alcbahamas.net/)

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Grace Church, 7393 Pearl Road, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130 on Friday July 17, 2026 at 10:30 AM. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH Interment will follow at Woodvale Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday 4 - 8 PM at the A. RIPEPI & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 Bagley Road (West of I-71), (440) 260-8800.