Gerald Louis Musil

SUN PRAIRIE - Gerald "Gerry" Musil, age 82, died on Jan. 27, 2017 at St Mary's Hospital following complications from surgery. Gerry was born on Nov. 4, 1934 in Manitowoc, the son of Louis and Alice (Hansen) Musil.

Gerry graduated from Lincoln High School in Manitowoc where he played basketball. He married Barbara Wergin of Manitowoc in Oct. 1955. Barbara was the cornerstone of his life, a loving collaboration of 52 years until her death in 2008. Gerry began his working life delivering milk before dawn for Sorge Dairy, and then bakery for Dick Brothers on a route from Manitowoc to Door County. He then joined the Mirro Aluminum Company where he was a sales representative in Baltimore, Maryland for 20 years. He and Barbara then branched out on their own starting Jerra Sales Agency in Mechanicsvile, Virginia. In 1987 they started a new career as mangers for La Quinta Inns, traveling around the country for many years.

His first job in retirement was to spend summers in Sun Prairie caring for his young granddaughters, returning to Fort Myers, Florida where he and Barbara lived for several years. Gerry and Barbara then returned to Wisconsin working at the Evora Lodge Colonial Acres in Sun Prairie as resident managers. Their love of antiques and auctions led them to the Columbus Antique Mall where Gerry maintained their booths for nearly a decade after Barbara passed.

Gerry will be remembered as an excellent conversationalist, a kind, gentle, caring man who always put others first. He loved to socialize and play cards, especially Sheepshead, which he recently enjoyed with friends at Angel Park. Gerry was a loving and generous man who will be deeply missed by those who loved him so dearly.

He is survived by his daughter Jennifer (Michael) Kolb of Sun Prairie, his son Neal Musil of Sun Prairie, three lovely granddaughters Danielle Luksch of Cape Coral, Florida, Rebecca Kolb of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Sarah Kolb of Madison, Wisconsin, one great granddaughter Kailee Luksch, his siblings Jay [Nancee] Musil of Valley Springs, California, and Joy Skeels of Telequah, Oklahoma, and two nieces he cherished as if his daughters Christine (Mike) Mellen and Angela Wergin of Pearland, Texas.

He was preceded in death by two infant daughters Betsy and Jaqueline, his wife Barbara Musil, parents Louis and Alice Musil, and step-mother Elinor Musil.

"When we think of those who traveled by our side down life's road let us not say with sadness that they left us behind, but rather say with gentle gratitude that they were once with us" Author Unknown