Wally Ray Wynkoop of Gillett, WI, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved him dearly.
What follows is written with love, by those who knew him best.
Wally held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
The community of faith holds its own well — and Wally was held.
Wally Ray Wynkoop, age 81, of Gillett, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 at his home surrounded by family. Wally was born in Troy, New York on December 29th, 1944, first child and son to The Rev. Walter William Wynkoop and Virginia Elizabeth Wynkoop (née Malepsy). Wally graduated from West Concord High School in southeastern Minnesota before enlisting in the United States Navy, where he served for four years as a Weatherman. On May 15, 1976, he married Katherine Ann DeMaris at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They had two children, Kristine and Gerrit, before going on to travel the world as a family; making homes in many places, including Belgium and Australia.
Throughout his life, Wally had many jobs, including working for the railroad in Saint Paul, selling Suzuki motorcycles, snowmobiles, and automobiles, driving a limousine in Washington D.C. (he drove Dr. Ruth! - yes, that Dr. Ruth), and working as a Post Office Clerk for the United States Embassy in Canberra, Australia. Wally was particularly proud of this last job and often said it was his favorite.
In his younger, wilder years, Wally liked to participate in off-road motorcycling and even wrestled a real-life black bear (the bear won). Wally also had quite the green thumb and loved to plant flowers and trees. One of these, a Monkey puzzle tree planted in the 1980s, now towers over our old house in Belgium. A lifelong fan of Westerns and John Wayne, Wally's favorite movie was Tombstone and he had the Doc Holiday t-shirt to prove it! However, it must be said that Wally's lifelong passion was sports, especially baseball and football. Throughout his long life, Wally always loved to root for the Minnesota Vikings. When he was younger, he tried out for the Minnesota Twins. Later on in Belgium, he played softball as both a pitcher and shortstop for the Rowdies, winning several European tournaments.
Finally, although he traveled the world with his loving wife and family, Wally was at heart, a homebody. Every morning, he loved to sit at the kitchen table, quietly tapping his fingers on his coffee cup as he listened to the birds outside. He also took great pride and joy visiting his grandchildren and their families and watching them grow and succeed in life.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy, Gillett, WI; daughter, Krissy (David) Withrow, Clintonville, WI; son, Gerrit, Gillett, WI; siblings, Cheri (Arnie) White, Fort Pierce, FL, Bruce Wynkoop, Blaine, MN, Christine Huff (Joe Rosenberg), Greer, SC, and Joel (Cathy) Wynkoop, Tampa, FL; brothers-in-law, Jerry (Chong) DeMaris, Westminster, MD and Craig (Tam) DeMaris, Waterloo, IA; 6 grandchildren, Cherish, Jaliyah, Michael, Harmony, Kayleigh, and David Jr.; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and eldest son, Terrance Howard Wynkoop, Jupiter, FL.
Visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026 at Faith United Lutheran Church from 9 am until the funeral service at 11 am with Pastor John Laatsch officiating. Military honors will follow the service. Wally will be interred at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Pulcifer. Gruetzmacher Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be expressed at www.gruetzmacherfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Wally's favorite charity, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, at https://t2t.org.
The family wishes to thank the Gillett and Oconto Falls Area Ambulance Services, the doctors and nurses at St. Clare, St. Vincent, and St. Mary's Hospitals, and Unity Hospice for their care over this last year. Without their dedication, we would not have been able to spend one more year with Wally.
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