Gerald Albin Wettberg
September 30, 1941 - January 17, 2008
Obituary
JERRY GERALD WETTBERG, 66, a 44-year resident of Des Moines, passed away 1-17-2008, in Phoenix after being air lifted from Parker, AZ where he suffered a massive heart attack. Jerry was born in Ironwood, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, the third of six children of Helia Walitalo and Albin Wettberg. The family moved to Ontanogan, MI where he lived until shortly after graduation when he did a short stint in the Army in Southern California, and then moved to the Seattle area where he met his wife, Bea MacPherson. In his early years, Jerry worked for PIE, Foss Tug and fished in Alaska during summers. His final job was with the Montgomery Elevator Company where he worked for 29 years as an installer and, at SeaTac Airport, in service and maintenance. He retired in 1996 and began his new career as a snow- bird, splitting his time between Parker, AZ and Des Moines. In Parker, Jerry and Bea met a whole new community of very special friends who became their second family, and after Bea passed away in 2004, that great group of friends helped ease the transition. An avid golfer, reluctant gardener, skilled boater, sometimes fisherman, happy camper, patient teacher, good story-teller, master grandfather and always a Yooper at heart, he loved his life and lived it fully doing what he enjoyed. Jerry was a great Husband to Bea, Great Dad to Terry, Vicki, Jim and special Grandfather to Melia and Conner. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, two sisters Elaine and Janet, and his beloved wife of 40 years, Bea. He is survived by sister Sharon Johns Jerry and Aunt Hulda Peterson 96! of Ontonogan, MI; brothers Kenny Rosie of Boscobel, WI, and Roger; sister-in-law Lillian McMillan, his many nieces and nephews; son Jim MacPherson Debra Young, daughter Terry Denend Aurelia Estrada and Vicki Petersen Gary, and he apples-of-his-eyes grandchildren, Melia 12 and Conner 9 Petersen. A memorial celebration will be held at the Parker Chapel, 900 SW 146th, Burien, 98166 on Saturday, 2/2/08 at 1:00 PM.
