(veteran)

Gerald John Wolter, 84, passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at the Hospice Care Center in Madison, Wis. He was a longtime resident of Arlington and Fremont. For the past five years he had lived in Madison.

“Jerry” was born Aug. 27, 1924, in Arlington, the son of Rev. George W. Wolter and Caroline Wolter (Gakemeier). He was baptized by his father on Aug. 31, 1924. He spoke his confirmation vows at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Arlington on May 15, 1938. Jerry graduated from Arlington High School in 1942. During World War II, he served in the Army in the European Theatre of operations, and later served in Korea from 1950-51. Between the two wars he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, graduating in 1950. On July 6, 1957, he was united in marriage to his beloved Darlene “Augie” Piere in Fremont.

Jerry was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, where he served as treasurer and financial secretary. He also served as president of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Omaha, during the mid-1960s. His career in accounting included positions as controller at Lutheran Medical Center in Omaha and Children’s Hospital in Denver. He also spent a year in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, as controller of a large military hospital.

Jerry had many interests over the years that ranged from playing chess and bridge, to being an excellent woodworker. He was a lifelong fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team and attended hundreds of games in Lincoln from the 1930s through 2006. He learned to play bocce in his 83rd year and followed the 2008 presidential election with the utmost seriousness and a strong sense of purpose. He was determined to outlast the presidency of George W. Bush, which he did by 11 days. But most of all, Jerry was devoted to his family and friends, whom he treasured above any material possessions. He was not a wealthy or powerful man, but he was a happy man.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene; daughter, Sally Edmunds (and husband, David) of Richardson, Texas; daughter, Elizabeth Ingebretson (and husband, Ron) of Reno, Nev.; son, Stephen (and wife, Syndi) of Middleton, Wis.; grandchildren, Brooke (and her husband James), Joshua, Aaron, Kate, Leeanne and Marin (and his wife, Kate); and great-grandchildren, Emmaline, Garrett, Finley and August.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, all six of his brothers, and both of his sisters, including his twin sister, Eleanor Daehnke of Fremont, who died in 2007.

Jerry’s favorite Bible verse was Romans 5:20, which reads, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

A memorial service celebrating Jerry’s life will be held in Fremont later this spring.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Jerry’s name be sent to Hospice Care Center, 5395 Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service in Madison is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.cressfuneralservice.com.

• Note--there is another obituary in our file at the Blair Library that has a different picture.