Jerry Wunsch

Gerald J. Wunsch was a man who's entire life was devoted to his family and his Lord. His mission in life was to spread the good news of God's plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ and to live his life as a true Christian. Gerald's burning desire to teach and assist others led him to travel down many roads throughout our country and abroad; his compassion and strong ability to help people in need of the Lord are his legacy.

The 1910's was a decade of great change for America. It was the decade when the United States was first considered a world leader; a time when America had become the most industrialized country in the world. Countries all over the world idealized America, craving its technology, music and clothing. The availability of products, particularly automobiles, changed the social climate forever. During this period of great transition in our country's history, Fred and Adeline (Roosinck) Wunsch of Ada, Michigan welcomed their second child into the family. Their only son, Gerald, was born on January 16, 1912.

The Wunsch family lived on a farm and from a very young age, all the children were given daily chores and soon learned to be self-sufficient. Jerry, as his family and friends called him, had a childhood typical of children born in this era. He worked long hard hours on the farm, instilling a work ethic that would remain with him throughout his life. Despite all the work, Jerry had fond memories of growing up on the farm and would often tell the story of how he had to walk to a one room schoolhouse in all types of weather to pursue his education. He attended that school through the 8th grade. At the age of 8, through the witness and teaching of Godly parents, Jerry became a Christian. After 8th grade, Jerry worked at a local bakery to save money for high school.

As a child, Jerry developed an eye condition. When he was in his mid-teens, his parents sent him to an eye care institute in Centralia, Illinois for treatment. While living at the institute over a period of several years, Jerry worked odd jobs to earn money so he could pay his own way. When he had enough free time he hitchhiked home for vacations to visit his family. Little did he know, his experience at the institute would be the catalyst to shape his life as a servant of the Lord.

One day, the doctors told Jerry they could not save his eyes and that one eye would have to be removed. Jerry went to bed that night and prayed to the Lord, submitting all of his life goals and will to him. He asked him to show him what to do with his life and allow him to do it as a blind man. When he awoke the next morning and the bandages were removed, he was able to see...his eye had been healed. Years later, he would again have vision problems, but the eye he was scheduled to lose remained his good eye.

While a young man in his teens, Jerry read an article about "The Land that God Forgot". It was an article about New Guinea. Jerry felt God had forgotten no one and started praying that someone would be sent to New Guinea to teach God's Word. Jerry's life ambition was to become either a pilot or a preacher...perhaps the thought of losing his eyesight had altered his ambition. He returned home to the farm in Ada, Michigan after his experience in Illinois. Shortly after Jerry returned home, his father died, altering his plans as he now felt he needed to stay home on the family farm.

Jerry's father had been a beekeeper and had taught Jerry all the skills to cultivate a successful beekeeping business. Jerry enjoyed the work and built the business into a rather large operation which included selling honey commercially. While Jerry focused his energies on the honey business and helping his family, he also found the time to become actively involved in his church. During the winter months and on break from the honey business, Jerry would take short trips to preach the Lord's Word as a lay preacher. Though he had never attended high school, Jerry was a self-educated man. He was very intelligent and well read. During this time, he also wired the family home for electricity, passing the inspection without a problem.

On August 21, 1942, Jerry was united in marriage with Elizabeth Van Kammen, a girl he had known since they were both very young. She too had a passion for teaching God's Word and became Jerry's life partner and the mother of his children. During their marriage, Jerry and Elizabeth were blessed with two children, Faith and David.

When World War II began, Jerry tried to enlist but was deferred because he was predominantly a farmer and beekeeper and had to focus his energies on the honey business. It was also during this time, his prayers changed from "send someone to New Guinea" to "send me to New Guinea". He was commended by the elders of his church to go, but he was unable to get a Visa.

Jerry's call to his faith and preaching the Lord's Word became stronger. He sold the beekeeping/honey business and purchased a travel trailer and the family (Jerry, Elizabeth and Faith) traveled throughout Louisiana, Texas, Arizona (where David was born), Utah and eventually California. Jerry would assist small assemblies and would leave as they became more firmly established . He supported his traveling family with his carpentry skills.

Throughout his travels, Jerry continued his efforts to get a Visa for New Guinea. In early 1952, the consulate shared with him that New Guinea didn't need preachers, but they could use a beekeeper to teach the people about beekeeping and honey production. Jerry finally got his Visa, packed up his family, and left from Portland on a freighter and headed for the undeveloped country of New Guinea. They ended up spending some time in Australia where Jerry developed another network of support; meeting other men with the same passion. Eventually, the family made it to New Guinea.

Jerry built the family home in the bush, using only some aluminum roofing he brought with them. Over the next 42 years, he would remain entirely devoted to his work in New Guinea. He established a number of churches and mission stations. He learned to survey the land and was responsible for surveying many roads that have been built in that area of New Guinea. Involved in the Mission Aviation Fellowship, he helped clear the land for a runway so that airplanes could bring supplies and medical help to the area. Yes, he taught beekeeping, honey production, reading, provided medical care, but it was all so he could tell people that God was "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

The family had their first furlough in 1959 and came state side every 4 years or so. Faith moved back to the States to attend college and David eventually graduated from high school in Grand Rapids. Jerry and Elizabeth stayed in touch with their families with air mail. Both were dedicated and faithful writers, writing their children weekly. Most of Jerry's letters concluded with a scripture passage. As Jerry and his wife aged, they tried to come home more frequently, especially to see their grandchildren.

They retired in 1993 and returned to the states. They settled at Rest Haven, but did not "settle down". Jerry remained very active within their community and assembly; involved with the Bible studies and after school Bible clubs. He believed "if you don't work, you don't eat". He was the driver for many of Rest Haven's residents and started raising bees again, producing honey for Rest Haven, family and friends.

Jerry lived a full life as a servant of his Lord. He remained healthy throughout his life enabling to him to do God's Work on earth. He was a loving father and devoted husband to his lifelong partner, Elizabeth. Jerry will be missed by all who were privileged to know him. As his strength failed this month, typically Jerry "closed his letter" with a scripture passage which he quite strongly shared several times with his children from Ephesians 5: 8-14: " Now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...have no fellowhip with the unfruitful works of darkness...Christ shall give thee light."

Gerald J. Wunsch died on October 29, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; their children Faith and Richard Hamilton, David and Jean Wunsch; grandchildren, Chad and Meg Hamilton, Beth and Jason Walker, Carl and Kristen Wunsch and Karin Wunsch; siblings, Alice MacKay, Margaret and William Van Prooyen; brothers-in-law Robert Sykes and Robert Brown, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Wilma Sykes and Delia Brown.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 7 at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Hills Bible Chapel, 4637 Ada Drive, SE. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield, NE and on Monday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment to follow in Rolfe Cemetery, Lowell Township.

Please visit Gerald's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution. Memorials can be made to either Christian Missions in Many Lands or Rest Haven Homes.