Gerald "Jerry" A. Gehl

Gerald A. Gehl, 84, of Chippewa Falls, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, with his wife at his side.

He will be remembered as a loving and generous husband, father, friend and psychiatrist who helped many people.

The family would like to thank the many health care providers who helped make it possible for him to live his last years at home.

Born October 15, 1938 in Marshfield, WI, Jerry was the only child of Marjorie and Andrew Gehl. He came late in life to Marjorie, who was 42 when he was born. An eager student, he was educated in the Marshfield public schools, and was involved in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. Jerry attended Carroll College in Waukesha from 1956-1960, graduating with a B.S. majoring in English Literature and Chemistry.

Accepted to the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison, he enrolled there in 1960. At the start of his second year, Jerry “re-met” a Marshfield girl, Carol TeStrake, a nursing student at Madison’s Methodist Hospital. They fell in love and stayed together for the next 61 years, marrying September 1, 1962 as she graduated from Nurses’ Training and he began his junior year of Med school.

Upon receiving his MD degree in 1964, they headed for San Diego, CA for his internship at the US Naval Hospital, followed by 2 more years f active duty based in San Diego. During that time their first child, Holly Sue, was born in 1966.

Jerry and his family returned to their roots in Wisconsin in 1967, where he began a residency in Psychiatry at UW Madison. A son, Paul Andrew, came along for a joy filled but painfully short stay, born in March 1969, but dying of a brain tumor in October 1972.

They stayed on in Madison after his residency and Child Psychiatry fellowship that was completed in 1971. Jerry was a staff psychiatrist at the Children’s consultation Service, Mendota Mental health Institute, and also had a part time private practice in Madison until 1974. During those years their third child, Sara Louise, was born in July 1973.

After 7 years in Madison, Jerry took a position with the Nicolet Clinic in Neenah-Menasha for 1 year, then established a solo private office practice in Neenah while also on the staff of Theda Clark Hospital for the next 17 years. Holly and Sara both graduated from Neenah High School, and Carol was very active in community organizations.

In December 1991, with the nest empty, Jerry and Carol moved to Chippewa Falls, where he joined the Marshfield Clinic Chippewa Falls Center as their first psychiatrist.

He enjoyed a number of interests at various times; rooting for the Badgers and Packers (he attended the first Superbowl), and for several years the UWGB Phoenix basketball team where his high school friend was head coach. Jerry even got to join that team on an exhibition tour of Denmark and Sweden in 1981. Another friend from Navy days introduced him to fishing and hunting. Bicycling, puttering and reading, Democratic Party politics, and following IndyCar and NASCAR racing where Holly’s husband worked as an engineer were also in the mix.

Perhaps his greatest recreational pleasure came from travel, an interest he shared with Carol. Together they visited (or passed through) 50 States, 8 Canadian Provinces, and 40 foreign countries.

Jerry always felt more than fortunate to have Carol for a partner, and Holly and Sara as children. They, in turn, multiplied his good fortune by adding 4 grandchildren to the clan; Holly’s Sophie and Joel, and Sara’s Gale and Andy.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters, Holly Sue (Tim) Reiter of Denver, NC, and Sara Louise (Scott) Eidam of Bloomington, MN; grandchildren, Sophie, Joel, Gale, and Andrew, and many other loving relatives and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Paul Andrew [1970-1972].

Due to Covid, a memorial gathering will not be held at this time. 

In lieu of flowers, Jerry requested memorials be directed to the Democratic Party of Chippewa County, the Open Door Clinic of Chippewa Falls, or The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.