Gerald C. Bay

Gerald ​C ​Bay Gerald​ ​was​ ​born​ ​at​ ​Misericordia​ ​hospital​ ​on​ ​February​ ​18th,​ ​1937​ ​in Milwaukee,​ ​Wi,​ ​to​ ​his​ ​parents​ ​Samuel​ ​and​ ​Evelyn.​ ​He​ ​had​ ​a​ ​sister​ ​Judy​ ​who​ ​was 8-years​ ​old​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​his​ ​birth. Gerry​ ​attended​ ​Manitoba​ ​grade​ ​school​ ​near​ ​his​ ​home​ ​on​ ​42nd​ ​street​ ​in Milwaukee.​ ​He​ ​later​ ​attended​ ​Pulaski​ ​middle​ ​school​ ​and​ ​high​ ​school. His​ ​summers​ ​were​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​sandlot​ ​baseball​ ​games​ ​played​ ​with neighborhood​ ​friends.​ ​Sandlot​ ​baseball​ ​is​ ​where​ ​he​ ​developed​ ​his​ ​skills​ ​well enough​ ​to​ ​play​ ​on​ ​a​ ​city​ ​league​ ​team​ ​called​ ​Jackson​ ​Park​ ​which​ ​was​ ​coached​ ​by his​ ​Dad.​ ​ ​As​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​he​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​baseball​ ​team​ ​at​ ​Pulaski​ ​high school. His​ ​involvement​ ​in​ ​sports​ ​didn’t​ ​stop​ ​there.​ ​ ​He​ ​also​ ​played​ ​football,​ ​tennis and​ ​swam​ ​on​ ​his​ ​school’s​ ​teams​ ​where​ ​he​ ​earned​ ​several​ ​varsity​ ​letters.​ ​Friends during​ ​those​ ​years​ ​called​ ​him​ ​by​ ​the​ ​name​ ​Sam,​ ​the​ ​same​ ​as​ ​his​ ​Dad. ​​He​ ​also​ ​took​ ​trips​ ​during​ ​the​ ​summer​ ​with​ ​family​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​his​ ​Uncle​ John’s ranch​ ​in​ ​North​ ​Dakota.​ ​ ​Dad​ ​got​ ​an​ ​early​ ​lesson​ ​in​ ​driving​ ​by​ ​operating​ ​thetractors​ ​there. Beginning​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fall​ ​of​ ​1955​ ​Gerry​ ​was​ ​enrolled​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Engineering​ ​school at​ ​UW-Madison.​ ​ ​He​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​a​ ​room​ ​at​ ​the​ ​YMCA​ ​his​ ​freshman​ ​year.​ ​ ​One​ ​of​ ​his engineering​ ​style​ ​antics​ ​included​ ​him​ ​and​ ​his​ ​friends​ ​putting​ ​a​ ​VW​ ​bug​ ​in​ ​the lobby​ ​of​ ​the​ ​YMCA!​ ​He​ ​lived​ ​with​ ​his​ ​sister​ ​Judith​ ​for​ ​the​ ​remainder​ ​of​ ​his​ ​years at​ ​UW-Madison.​ ​ ​He​ ​continued​ ​his​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​sports​ ​through​ ​swimming​ ​on​ ​the college​ ​team​ ​a​ ​year,​ ​trying​ ​out​ ​for​ ​the​ ​baseball​ ​team​ ​and​ ​going​ ​to​ ​various​ ​Badger sports​ ​events.​ ​Football​ ​was​ ​his​ ​favorite​ ​and​ ​he​ ​continued​ ​being​ ​a​ ​fan​ ​of​ ​Badger sports​ ​throughout​ ​his​ ​lifetime. He​ ​was​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ROTC​ ​program​ ​while​ ​attending​ ​university​ ​in​ ​Madison,​ ​but​ ​he mainly​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​earning​ ​his​ ​Civil​ ​Engineering​ ​degree,​ ​which​ ​he​ ​completed​ ​in 1960. He​ ​began​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​work​ ​in​ ​Wisconsin​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​near​ ​his​ ​family.​ ​He​ ​found his​ ​first​ ​job​ ​as​ ​an​ ​engineering​ ​professional​ ​with​ ​Standard​ ​Oil​ ​Co.​ ​in​ ​Milwaukee. He​ ​joined​ ​the​ ​reserves​ ​in​ ​the​ ​army​ ​during​ ​this​ ​time.​ ​ ​One​ ​of​ ​his​ ​first​ ​projects​ ​while on​ ​the​ ​job​ ​was​ ​designing​ ​the​ ​pipe​ ​work​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Frank​ ​Seneca​ ​standard​ ​oil​ ​gas station​ ​in​ ​West​ ​Allis.​ ​ ​The​ ​station​ ​exists​ ​yet​ ​today​ ​as​ ​a​ ​historical​ ​landmark. In​ ​the​ ​summer​ ​of​ ​1963​ ​he​ ​married​ ​the​ ​woman​ ​who​ ​became​ ​his​ ​only​ ​wife, Judith​ ​Reichenbach.​ ​ ​Just​ ​prior​ ​to​ ​their​ ​marriage,​ ​they​ ​bought​ ​their​ ​first​ ​and​ ​only home​ ​next​ ​to​ ​his​ ​wife’s​ ​family​ ​lake​ ​house​ ​in​ ​the​ ​town​ ​of​ ​Summit,​ ​Wisconsin. There​ ​he​ ​raised​ ​his​ ​family​ ​with​ ​Judith​ ​during​ ​their​ ​53-year​ ​long​ ​marriage.​ ​Gerry and​ ​Judy​ ​didn’t​ ​waste​ ​any​ ​time!​ ​Kathy,​ ​Patti,​ ​Robert​ ​and​ ​Derrick​ ​were​ ​all​ ​born between​ ​1964​ ​and​ ​1969. Gerry​ ​was​ ​a​ ​cub​ ​scout​ ​and​ ​webelo​ ​master​ ​for​ ​Derrick​ ​and​ ​Rob​ ​and​ ​also coached​ ​their​ ​little​ ​league​ ​teams.​ ​ ​He​ ​attended​ ​events​ ​such​ ​as​ ​plays,​ ​sports events,​ ​and​ ​football​ ​games​ ​where​ ​Kathy​ ​was​ ​a​ ​cheerleader.​ ​Patti​ ​and​ ​Rob performed​ ​in​ ​concert​ ​band​ ​and​ ​marching​ ​band.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​also​ ​involved​ ​in parent-teacher​ ​conferences​ ​for​ ​each​ ​of​ ​his​ ​children​ ​during​ ​their​ ​school​ ​years. Dad​ ​was​ ​an​ ​excellent​ ​provider!​ ​He​ ​made​ ​the​ ​house​ ​a​ ​home​ ​when​ ​he​ ​added a​ ​dining​ ​room,​ ​remodeled​ ​the​ ​interior​ ​walls​ ​and​ ​added​ ​a​ ​second​ ​bathroom. An​ ​ardent​ ​do-it-yourself​ ​guy,​ ​he​ ​seeded​ ​and​ ​tilled​ ​a​ ​garden​ ​every​ ​spring and​ ​summer​ ​which​ ​brought​ ​fresh​ ​cucumbers,​ ​tomatoes,​ ​squash,​ ​green​ ​beans, and​ ​raspberries.​ ​Only​ ​the​ ​last​ ​summer​ ​of​ ​his​ ​life​ ​he​ ​wasn’t​ ​able​ ​to​ ​put​ ​in​ ​a garden. The​ ​Bay​ ​Family​ ​was​ ​popular​ ​all​ ​over​ ​Upper​ ​Nemahbin​ ​lake​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the high-dive​ ​raft​ ​Dad​ ​built.​ ​It​ ​stayed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lake​ ​over​ ​many​ ​summers​ ​where​ ​family and​ ​friends​ ​enjoyed​ ​swimming​ ​together. He​ ​poured​ ​the​ ​cement​ ​sidewalks​ ​on​ ​the​ ​shoreline​ ​and​ ​a​ ​path​ ​to​ ​the​ ​back porch,​ ​sodded​ ​the​ ​back​ ​and​ ​front​ ​yards.​ ​Dad​ ​cultivated​ ​our​ ​family​ ​togetherness. Dad​ ​and​ ​Grandpa​ ​Bay​ ​built​ ​a​ ​big​ ​playhouse​ ​in​ ​the​ ​backyard.​ ​ ​Swimming,​ ​skiing, boating,​ ​and​ ​fishing​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lake​ ​were​ ​times​ ​spent​ ​together.​ ​ ​He​ ​taught​ ​each​ ​of​ ​us children​ ​how​ ​to​ ​water​ ​ski.​ ​We​ ​remember​ ​fondly​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​water​ ​“toys”​ ​(including discs​ ​and​ ​boards)​ ​that​ ​Dad​ ​made​ ​out​ ​of​ ​wood.​ ​He​ ​loved​ ​to​ ​spend​ ​summer​ ​days pulling​ ​us​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​speed​ ​boat​ ​on​ ​all​ ​of​ ​his​ ​inventions. In​ ​winters,​ ​he​ ​provided​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​sleds;​ ​metal​ ​saucers,​ ​classic​ ​roll​ ​up plastic​ ​sleds​ ​and​ ​the​ ​like,​ ​for​ ​family​ ​sledding.​ ​Learning​ ​how​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​on​ ​the​ ​toboggan together​ ​was​ ​the​ ​pinnacle​ ​challenge​ ​for​ ​us​ ​kids​ ​during​ ​those​ ​outings! Dad​ ​worked​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Wisconsin​ ​Gas​ ​Company​ ​through​ ​the​ ​merger​ ​when​ ​it became​ ​Wisconsin​ ​Gas​ ​&​ ​Electric.​ ​ ​He​ ​was​ ​promoted​ ​through​ ​his​ ​25​ ​years​ ​to Senior​ ​Project​ ​Engineer.​ ​ ​He​ ​put​ ​in​ ​his​ ​request​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​the​ ​company​ ​in​ ​1986, whereupon​ ​he​ ​partnered​ ​in​ ​a​ ​mechanical​ ​contracting​ ​company​ ​called​ ​EPM​ ​in New​ ​Berlin.​ ​ ​He​ ​left​ ​that​ ​company​ ​in​ ​1992​ ​and​ ​was​ ​employed​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Senior​ ​Project Manager​ ​at​ ​Butters​ ​Fetting​ ​in​ ​Milwaukee. Family​ ​celebrations​ ​were​ ​a​ ​favorite​ ​time​ ​for​ ​Dad.​ ​We​ ​all​ ​enjoyed​ ​spending birthdays,​ ​graduations,​ ​anniversaries,​ ​weddings,​ ​Christmas,​ ​Thanksgiving,​ ​Easter and​ ​4th​ ​of​ ​July​ ​together.​ ​ ​Those​ ​are​ ​warm​ ​and​ ​happy​ ​memories​ ​that​ ​will​ ​last​ ​a lifetime​ ​for​ ​our​ ​family.​ ​He​ ​became​ ​a​ ​Grandpa​ ​beginning​ ​in​ ​1996.​ ​ ​He​ ​was​ ​a​ ​fun and​ ​generous​ ​one​ ​too!​ ​His​ ​grandkids​ ​loved​ ​him​ ​immensely;​ ​all​ ​9​ ​of​ ​them!​ ​Ann Marie,​ ​Kathryn,​ ​Samuel,​ ​Charlie,​ ​Andrew,​ ​Allison,​ ​Alexander,​ ​Michael​ ​and​ ​Zachary had​ ​many​ ​memorable​ ​experiences​ ​with​ ​their​ ​Grandpa​ ​throughout​ ​their​ ​lives. We​ ​are​ ​fortunate​ ​and​ ​thankful​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​times​ ​Dad​ ​instructed,​ ​inspired and​ ​loved​ ​us​ ​through​ ​our​ ​lives​ ​challenges.​ ​ ​Our​ ​family​ ​will​ ​sorely​ ​miss​ ​Dad.​ ​ ​He was​ ​loved​ ​by​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​family,​ ​all​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​enriched​ ​Dad’s​ ​life.​ ​We would​ ​like​ ​to thank​ ​the​ ​many​ ​friends​ ​who​ ​have​ ​been​ ​so​ ​generous​ ​to​ ​our​ ​family​ ​with​ ​love​ ​and support​ ​during​ ​this​ ​time​ ​of​ ​grieving​ ​in​ ​our​ ​family.​ ​ ​We​ ​would like​ ​to​ ​make​ ​special mention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hospice​ ​caregiving​ ​staff​ ​who​ ​were​ ​so​ ​helpful​ ​during​ ​Dad’s​ ​last days. So​ ​many​ ​wonderful​ ​experiences​ ​of​ ​Dads​ ​support​ ​are​ ​too​ ​numerous​ ​to mention​ ​here.​ ​Dad​ ​was​ ​grateful​ ​for​ ​the​ ​many​ ​friends​ ​he​ ​and​ ​Mom​ ​had​ ​in​ ​the worship​ ​community​ ​at​ ​Nashotah​ ​House​ ​and​ ​St.​ ​John’s​ ​Chrysostom.​ ​ ​These friendships​ ​became​ ​even​ ​more​ ​special​ ​during​ ​the​ ​last​ ​years​ ​of​ ​their​ ​lives. Dad​ ​was​ ​greatly​ ​anticipating​ ​his​ ​reunion​ ​with​ ​our​ ​Mom​ ​in​ ​heaven.​ ​We share​ ​in​ ​the​ ​eternal​ ​hope​ ​of​ ​Christ​ ​that​ ​one​ ​day​ ​we​ ​will​ ​all​ ​be​ ​reunited​ ​there. ​ ​We​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​thank​ ​all​ ​of​ ​you​ ​for​ ​the​ ​kindness​ ​and​ ​love you’ve​ ​shown​ ​Dad​ ​over​ ​his​ ​eighty​ ​years​ ​here​ ​with​ ​us. We​ ​love​ ​you​ ​Dad!! We​ ​miss​ ​you more than​ ​words​ ​can​ ​say!!