Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Gerald Dale "Jerry" Wacker passed away on Jan. 26, 2018, at his home surrounded by family in Hood River, Ore. Gerald was born on June 18, 1933, and was 84 years of age at the time of his passing. His first eight years were spent in western Nebraska, where he was born. At the beginning of World War II, his parents Carl and Sarah Wacker, with his sister, Nancy moved to Lincoln, Neb.
Jerry graduated from Lincoln High School and attended the University of Nebraska. In 1951, he met the love of his life, Geraldine "Jerrie" Bauer. A year later, in 1952, they were married. Jerry worked for Norden Laboratories, a veterinary pharmaceutical firm in management and sales.
In 1953, their first daughter, Nancy, was born. In 1954, Jerry and the family were transferred to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he set up a branch office for Norden Lab. While managing the lab he took classes at Indiana University and Purdue. In 1956, his second daughter, Vickie, was born.
In 1959, Jerry and Jerrie bought their first home in New Haven, Ind. There he formed the Home Owners Association, joined the Jaycees, and organized a swim team. In 1961, their son, Bart, was born.
After many years in Indiana, Norden transferred Jerry to Hillsboro, Ore., where he worked until retirement after 35 years with the company. He attended Portland State and was a volunteer with the Crisis Center in Portland for two years.
Jerry loved adventure. He spent time traveling, camping, fishing and hunting. Many of these trips were shared with his wife, Jerrie, daughters, Nancy and Vickie, and son, Bart.
Jerry retired to Hood River, Ore., in 1994 and spent time building their last home. Jerry also spent time in various parts of the world including the Amazon River in Peru. He climbed mountains in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, he took many trips to Alaska, hiked the Appalachian Trail, plus travelled within the USA. Jerry and his wife also enjoyed many leisure trips to Hawaii, Germany and Austria. The family made several trips to the Oregon Coast. Jerry volunteered at the Discovery Center in The Dalles, identifying and logging artifacts for over six years. He was also a volunteer at the Carousel Museum, taught swimming for the handicap adults and kids at the Hood River Pool and was a volunteer for Pine Grove School for fifth grade field trips.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Jerrie of Hood River, Ore.; daughters, Vickie Sciacca (Ben) of Stevenson, Wash., Nancy Ericson (Howard) of Columbus, Ohio; son, Bart Wacker of Beaverton, Ore.; grandchildren, Clint Bradshaw (Sarah), Kendal Cederstam, Nathan Ericson (Megan), Matthew Ericson (Ailisha), David Ericson (Betsy), Joel Ericson and Nicholas Sargent and great-grandchildren, Bradley Ericson, Olive Ericson, Deacon Ericson, Dexter Ericson, Cougar Ericson and Jody Ericson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Sarah Wacker, and sister Nancy Hesson.
Disposition was by cremation, with his ashes sprinkled around his garden and along the Oregon Coast, which he loved.
A celebration of Jerry's life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry's honor may be made to the Cancer Society for Pancreatic Cancer research and to the Heart of Hospice in Hood River, Ore.
The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful people at the Heart of Hospice and Bobbi's Way who took such loving care of Jerry.
Visit www.Andersons TributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
