Geraldine (Tschetter) Wiess

Geraldine (Tschetter) Wiess was born Sept. 26, 1928, to Jacob and Ethel (Ablin) Tschetter, and was raised in Spirit Lake, Idaho. She passed away on March 10, 2021, in Spokane, Wash.

As a kid her passions were swimming, playing basketball, school and any card game; several of those passions hardly diminished as she grew to adulthood. She graduated from what was then called Washington State College (yes, in Pullman!) with the class of 1950, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. It was here that she met the guy for her, John Wiess, from Great Falls, Mont.

They were married on Feb. 9, 1951, and started on their honeymoon down the coastal route to San Francisco. They enjoyed the SF nightlife of movies, jazz concerts and dining out — while both worked at daytime jobs — but their newly-together lifestyle was interrupted when John was ordered to active duty and they proceeded south, to Camp Roberts, Calif. Gerry went to work as a clerk-typist in the base personnel office and John did as he was ordered!

Shortly after the new year, John was ordered to Fort Benning, and off they went to Georgia. Their first son, Mark Edward, was born there in March of 1952, and when Gerry and her newborn were approved to travel, the threesome set out for Montana — and ultimately to her parents' home in Spirit Lake, where Gerry and Mark lived while John departed for Korea.

Fast forward to 1956. John is home from Korea; they have purchased a home in Great Falls and now have a new daughter, Tracy Rae (2), and are moving again — this time to Las Vegas, where John will join the Las Vegas Police Department. In Las Vegas, Gerry worked for the prime contractor of the AEC, and they had their second son, J. Christian.

In 1963, another chapter opened in her life when her husband accepted a position with the Office of Public Safety, Agency for International Development (OPS/AID), Washington, D.C.

Although most of their overseas postings were in underdeveloped countries, they were enervating and exciting, despite the extended airline travel, airport layovers and transfers, sometimes having to keep track of three young travelers and their accompanying baggage (how about 15 suitcases?) when John had already gone ahead and left her with the responsibility of traveling on her own.

Their three children accompanied them to Kathmandu, Nepal, Georgetown, British Guyana and Taipei, Taiwan. Their oldest son, Mark, and daughter, Tracy, both graduated from the Taipei American High School and went on to college at WSU. While John commenced a five-year assignment at his headquarters in Washington, D.C., Gerry returned to the workforce in the finance branch of the U.S. Navy in Alexandria, Va.

In 1976, Gerry and John were off again, this time to Dacca, Bangladesh, sans the children, for a five-year assignment before returning to their home in Mount Vernon, Va., and their final stateside posting.

The adventures concluded with an assignment to Panama City, Panama, following which John retired in 1989. The retirement led Gerry and John back to the Northwest and their eventual home in Spokane.

Gerry’s interests in life have been her family, her friends, duplicate bridge (Bronze Life Master), bowling, yoga, exercise, and in recent years — line dancing. She answered to ‘Geraldine,’ ‘Aunt Gerry,’ ‘Gram’ or ‘Gramma,’ and was a caring sister, wife, super-mom and all around wonderful, keenly perceptive person.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Jacob Tschetter; her sister, Lorraine Vedvig; and a brother, Kenneth.

Having celebrated her 70th wedding anniversary shortly before her passing, she is survived by her husband, John; sons, Mark E. (Rosa), J. Christian (Claire); daughter, Tracy McClintock (Mark); four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; along with seven incredible nieces and their spouses and children.

At her request, there will be no service; the family will have a private celebration of life at the family lake home at a future date.

Memorials contributions may be directed to Hospice of Spokane, 102 W. Rhoades Ave., Spokane, WA 99208, or Spokane Shriners Hospital for Children, PO Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472).

Visit Gerry’s online guest book at www.riplingerfuneralhome.com.