Obituary for Harry F. Gattiker Harry E. Gattiker, 81, passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 25th with his wife by his side. The son of the late Arnold and Agnes Gattiker, he was born February 11, 1937 in Loretto, PA. In 1st grade, Harry moved from Indianapolis to Wausau, graduating from Wausau High School.
Harry graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1959 with a BS in English. He met Betty A. Sturm at Wausau Floral where they both worked while in High School. They married September 3, 1960.
Harry began his Claims insurance career in 1960, taking the family from Indiana, Ohio, Utah, and then to Georgia. To Harry, his work was more than a job. He was committed to making individuals and communities whole after catastrophe struck whether it was tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding or fires.
Particularly memorable was to be the first on-site claims adjuster after the collapse of the Teton Dam, in Idaho, in the early 1980’s. Additionally, his estimate of the damages was cited in the Congressional record because of his accuracy and precision to detail. Harry enjoyed training and mentoring others.
Harry served his country in the National Guard in Wisconsin and Indiana, and is a member of the American Legion. Harry loved to garden and be outdoors. He was a tinkerer, an avid fisherman and boater, and loved to snow ski.
He shared his love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren. Harry had fun with the grandkids including making homemade rubber guns, silly putty, and kites. Harry was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran in Sandy, Utah and upon moving to Georgia was a member at Lutheran Church of the Incarnation and currently, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.
Over the years, he was an active volunteer at Lutherwood, Habitat for Humanity, and the MUST ministries. Harry Gattiker is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Betty Sturm Gattiker, and their three children and families. Daughter, Linda K. (Dave) Jancik and children Bryant, Derek and Kirsten (Naperville Illinois); his daughter Tracy L. (Mike) Christensen (Salt Lake City, Utah); and his son, Eric H. (Terry), children Erica, Emily, and Patrick (Athens, Georgia).
He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents and older siblings, Dorothy, Robert (Betty), and Godfrey (Irene). A celebration of life will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marietta, Georgia, Sunday October 7, 2018 at 2:00 PM with the Rev.
Dave Helfrich officiating. A memorial service and interment will be held in Wausau, Wisconsin at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Lung Association or the YMCA.
Condolences are welcome at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home at mayeswarddobbins.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Harry F. Gattiker please visit our Sympathy Store.
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