Longtime Wausau Alder Gary Gisselman Dies at 82

Gary Lee Gisselman, a dedicated Wausau City Council member and local historian, passed away at age 82 on August 9, 2025. He served multiple terms on the City Council and the Marathon County Board, recently returning to both in 2022 after previous service. Gisselman was deeply committed to preserving the history of the Wausau area, notably through his role as chairman of the Wausau Historic Preservation Commission and volunteering at the Marathon County Historical Society Library. He had a particular passion for the German heritage of the region, participating in the Pomeranian Club of Central Wisconsin as its president and traveling to his ancestral homeland in Pomerania. Gisselman also contributed significantly to his community through leadership roles at Zion Lutheran Church and as a board member of the Max Kade Institute. Wausau Mayor Doug Diny praised Gisselman as a consummate public servant whose time and energy in service to the community were unmatched and will be greatly missed.