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Memorial Keepers(2)
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Gerald (Jerry) Wier
March 21st, 1944 - July 25th, 2020
March 21st, 1944 - July 25th, 2020
Gerald Michael Wier passed away as the result of a motorcycle accident on July 25 2020 near Sutter Creek CA. Known as Jerry, he was born in Denver CO on March 21 1944 to Robert Lemoine Wier and Genevieve Catherine (Gregory) Wier. Jerry resided in Lakewood CO until 1969. He learned to ski at an early age and was known as a “Hot Dog” skier at all the local ski areas including Brekenridge where he owned property before it was a resort. In 1969 Jerry left on a a cruise to Australia. While on the ship he met Susan Kathleen Senser from CA who was on her way to New Zealand for a job. Jerry spent some time in NZ, then went for a 7 month tour of Australia. He married Susan on his return to NZ in 1970. They lived in Wellington for a year before moving to the South Island where they purchased a home outside the Christchurch area. Both worked for The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Susan stayed home after the birth of their sons Eugene Robert Lisle Wier (Lincoln NZ 1975) and Michael Ellesmere Wier (Leeston NZ, 1977). In 1979 they returned to California, and after much searching about, settled in Amador County which they both loved for it's beautiful rolling hills and oak trees. They built two houses in the Willow Creek Ranch Estates. Jerry lived in the second one, a redwood log home, until his death. Although divorced in 1987, Jerry and Susan remained friends and spent many happy times with their sons, and later Eugene and Karsten Peterson's sons Bodhin Michael Wier and Drake Fisher Wier of Ashland OR. Later in life he loved bikes. He spent hundreds of hours, and went thousands of miles, peddling along the back roads of Amador County. He made multiple long distance solo tours across the USA, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. He loved sleeping in a tent even in a heavy rain or strong wind. Whether on his bike, hiking or driving Jerry loved to visit new places. He continued to ski through this past winter. His favorite days were when it was snowing the heaviest. He lived an active and adventurous life and died doing what he loved. Jerry made friends easy and left an impression on many people all around the world. His humor and generosity will be remembered by many. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and his older sister Sherry (Wier) Jaecks, Chicago IL. His beloved Golden Retriever, Jake, misses him mightily. Jerry was very proud that both his sons work for Conservation Organizations and memorial contributions can be made to The Freshwater Trust or California Trout.
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Resting Place
Sierra Nevada Mountains
37.6604533, -119.1384556
Tributes
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Lance Hibben
Like Dave Phillips, I worked with Jerry, Dave, and other fun guys at DGS Procurement Division. We worked hard (sometimes) and laughed hard (most times). It was a special time in my life and Jerry was part of it. Eventually, we all went our separate ways. We stayed in touch over the years and would get together for lunch every now and then and catch up on life's updates. Jerry was pure Jerry. I can see (the Jerry that I knew) in the other tributes and comments from his loved ones who have also contributed their memories of him. I remember many funny situations and stories Jerry and I shared with each other. Oftentimes we laughed so hard, it was hard to catch our breath and tears of laughter flowed down on both of us. Most of these involved our experiences while others just happened in the moment. As all of you know, Jerry had a great sense of humor. I also have a couple noteworthy memories to share about his stories and adventures he shared with me. Some of these stories brought him into dangerous situations. He told me some of these moments he thought he was going to die. At these moments, he would tell me what he was thinking. He would tell me, "I thought, well, I guess this is it" but then somehow he cheated death and afterwards tell me the story. It's the last story that he didn't get to tell me that is the hardest one to hear. At least I know he was doing what he loved to do. Another noteworthy story was from one of his cross country bike treks. On that particular day, he was riding across the northern great plains. He told me about this moment riding alone and realized the conditions were perfect. The road, the temperature, the sunlight hanging low in the sky casting shadows, and the vast natural beauty which surrounded him. He told me that moment brought him into a deep appreciation and a little closer to God. We will miss him in our own unique ways but I think we also realize he left us doing what he loved, his own way, and probably thinking to himself, "Well I guess this is it".
Barbara "brandy" James
I first saw Jerry on the slopes of the Crested Butte Ski Area; he was “mogul tipping” down the face of Jokerville - the best bump run on CB. I was a 17 year old college freshman who came to Western State with a small scholarship and an appetite for skiing. It took me 7 runs until I managed to catch up with him on the gondola, but I did and we soon became friends - on campus and on the mountain. We dated off and on for a year and a half before he left for Australia. I wouldn’t see him again for 27 years. While Jerry was off adventuring, marrying and having two sons; I had been on my own adventure, marrying and having two daughters. We would reconnect in one of our old haunts, the W Cafe in Gunnison, Colorado. Jerry was in town with his ski buddies, having a nostalgic breakfast; I had moved back to Gunnison and was having breakfast with my youngest daughter. Jerry came over to the booth and sat down beside me and we picked up, mid-sentence, where we last left off. Our friendship continued with long letters, emails, phone calls and photos over the years, a chronology of our lives, our work, marriage/divorce, our children, our joys and sorrows, our hopes and dreams. I followed Jerry’s tours through Africa, Europe and beyond. Then one day I received a call from him asking if I planned to be around in about 3 weeks. He was riding his bike from his home to visit a friend in Virginia and would come through Gunnison. He came and stayed for a while and we re-visited all our old favorite places, Mill Creek, Ohio Pass, Kebler Pass, Crested Butte, Lake City, the college, and our favorite places in downtown “Gunny”. He hung his bike on the back of my car and rode with me to Canon City to visit my mom, before continuing his bike journey East. I would not see him again, but we would continue to write, call, email, laugh and share our children’s ups and downs, and the many changes in our lives. I will miss those calls, his laughter, his spirit, his zest for life….because all were contagious. I cherish all the photos he sent and looking back through them after receiving this sad news, I both laughed and cried, but the memories will always be happy. Thank you my friend, for being a part of my life; may the powder be deep and dry, the bumps well rounded.
Martin Thomas
I met Jerry when we were both cycling along the “Southern Tier” route in 2008. I had started out alone from San Diego heading to New Orleans. About 5 days in, I was getting pretty lonely and wondering why I was doing it, when I met Jerry who seemed to be having a blast. He was a veteran of long/distance bike touring and kind of adopted me. He gave me lots of practical advice (like never pass up a chance to stop for ice cream), but more importantly, encouragement to keep going. Along with another rider he’d met a couple days earlier, we rode together for a few weeks until I split off to New Orleans and he continued the whole way to the coast in Florida. He was a strong rider, and even though I’d start out each day an hour or two before him, he’d always catch up to me around lunch time, share a joke or a story and slow down to ride with me for the rest of the day. We stayed in touch and I visited him in CA two years after the bike trip. A couple of years ago, I rode the last section from New Orleans to Florida, and Jerry sent me emails every day with words of encouragement. I was so lucky to have him as a friend.
Coley
Thank you for the necklace from France, I still have it, and letting me crash out at your pad, but most of all, thanks for creating lil Mikey to play with and poke fun at. RIP. Much much love, Coley xxoo
Susan Senser
Thanks to Karsten for the wonderful job she's done on the memorial and tributes to Jerry. Although we were divorced we remained friends and did "family" things together when ever our sons and/ or grandkids were visiting. We especially enjoyed eating out with our extended families. Jerry loved and lived in the redwood log home on five acres that we built in the early 1980's. Jerry loved his dogs - Rusty (Collie, CO), Bobbie (Collie NZ), Denver (Irish Setter NZ/USA), Ebbett (the terriorist Lab than lived for 17 years), and lastly Jake (Golden Retriever). Before his Parkinson's weakened his grip he volunteered to walk dogs at Amador County Animal Control for many years. Parkinson's Disease developed in his early 70's but he fought it with every ounce of his being and never let it stop him doing anything he wanted. He was on his way home from the gym when he was hit. I know he's up there in the great beyond biking or skiing every Cloud mountain he can.
Moni
I met Jerry while I was touring across the USA in 2003. The four of us stopped in Fargo North Dakota for ice cream. Such a hoot. Rick and Dan were my other traveling companions. I stayed in touch with him all these years... and I am sad to hear, he crashed and died. However, I know he led a GREAT life, and he is no longer slowed down.
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