Gary Alexander

Gary Alexander passed away peacefully of natural causes at home in Wausau on November 18. He lived an inspiring life of nearly 91 years and was much loved by all who knew him.

Gary was born at home on January 11, 1935, to Henry and Mary (Williamson) Alexander in Westfield, Wisconsin. He graduated from Westfield High School as class valedictorian and earned twelve athletic letters in basketball, football, baseball, and track. He then attended Ripon College, graduating with a major in mathematics, a minor in Spanish, and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army through the ROTC program. At Ripon he earned two letters as a pitcher on the baseball team. After training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts as a cryptanalytic officer, he served on Kanghwa Do Island off South Korea, where he was the operations officer of an Army Security Agency unit intercepting North Korean radars. Gary's experiences in college and his time in Korea sparked his abiding interest in learning about other people, places, and cultures.

After returning from Korea in 1959 he moved to Wausau and joined the former Wausau Insurance Companies (then Employers Mutual) in their newly established computer department. He soon fell in love with another recent arrival to Wausau, Marsha Whempner, a teacher at Wausau High School. On December 26, 1960, he and Marsha were married in her home town of Lake City, Minnesota. A lifelong sports fan, Gary was disappointed to see the Packers lose the national championship to the Eagles that same day, but knew he had truly won out in marrying Marsha.

 Gary worked a total of 26 years with Wausau Insurance, all in the computer area, including 13 years with a subsidiary, where he became vice president for product research and development. Following that he worked 12 years at the Wausau Medical Center (now Marshfield Clinic - Wausau Center), where he retired in 1997 as associate administrator for patient services. His knowledge of technology, business, and the medical world combined with his sincere interest in people made him a respected and admired leader throughout his career.

A member of First Presbyterian Church since 1961, Gary was active as a church school teacher, elder, deacon, and church treasurer. He was a member of mission groups to New Orleans (after hurricane Katrina) and to inner city Chicago. Volunteering with the Good News Project allowed him to carry out homebuilding and other service work in St. Lucia for ten years, and he volunteered with Helping Hands doing similar work in Jamaica one year as well. In the community, he was a Little League coach, and served on the boards of The Neighbors' Place, Friends of the Library, Mobile Meals, Girl Scouts, and the Good News Project for ten years. His upbringing and values were such that he always looked for ways he could help others.

Gary and Marsha enjoyed camping for over 40 years. They took their four children to Northern Wisconsin, Florida, Alabama, and the East and West coasts in a variety of campers. As empty nesters, they traveled to six continents. Favorite destinations included Egypt, Morocco, Russia, China, Australia, and the British Isles. Their travels to Europe included countries behind the former Iron Curtain as well as Turkey and Greece. They enjoyed many cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas.

Gary is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Marsha; children Jay (Ana) Alexander, Grand Junction, Colorado; Jordan (Julie) Alexander, Columbia, Missouri; Paul (Melissa) Alexander, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Julie (Kye) Alexander, Denver, Colorado; grandchildren Jackson, Katie, and Brooklyn; brothers Gene (Darlene), Nekoosa, Wisconsin; Brian, Montello, Wisconsin; and sister Kay (Robert) Berry, Verona, Wisconsin. Gary was a caring big brother, devoted husband, nurturing father, helpful father-in-law, and adoring grandfather.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on December 6 at First Presbyterian Church in Wausau. In lieu of flowers, Gary requested donations to keep his values and spirit alive to First Presbyterian Church, the Good News Project, or Helping Hands.