Doctor Gerald John Bannasch was born in Park Ridge, Illinois to Elsie Stray and Harold Bannasch in 1945.  Dr. Bannasch was preceded in death by his older brother, Jim; mother and father; first wife, Teresa, and their unborn child; beloved dogs, Beethoven, and Buttercup; and cat Ditka.  He is survived by his youngest son, Jessie, and his partner Cynthia; middle son, Adam, his wife Kate and their boys, Milo and Max; oldest son, Eric and his family; sister Jeanie; beloved dog Lulu; and his wife of 37 years, Gloria.

Gloria can say with absolute confidence that her Jerry was the world's best husband and the love of her life.  Gloria met Jerry, at Sarasota Palms Private Psychiatric Hospital in Sarasota Florida, in 1983 when they began doing family therapy for Jerry's patients.  During the 44 years that they worked together, had adventures, and laughed together, and, about every six months, bickered together (about one of three things), they formed an unbreakable bond.  All these memories, and that of their favorite Ritual of Connection, will remain locked safely in Gloria's heart until they are reunited on the other side.

Dr. Bannasch had a long and successful career as a psychiatrist, neurologist, neuropsychiatrist, neurophysiologist, and vascular neurologist.  Patients in Rhode Island, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and finally, numerous locations in Wisconsin, have all had the opportunity to drink from the good doctor's fountain of wisdom. Many of Dr. Bannasch's patients have said that they know that he cared deeply about them and their families; that he told them the truth (even when they didn't really want to hear it), and that he always treated them with dignity.

Dr. Bannasch will be remembered by his sons, Jesse, and Adam, as a loving father and the king of Trivial Pursuit.  The Team at GJB Health Services will remember Dr. Bannasch as brilliant (with a dark sense of humor), humble, organizationally impaired, and kind.  Lulu will remember her Da's love and miss his cuddles; Gloria will remember all things about Jerry and will miss him endlessly until they meet again.

A celebration of life will take place at 4 pm on Saturday, May 11, at the Brettschneider Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel.  Friends may visit at the funeral chapel from 2 pm to 4 pm.  Dr. Bannasch will be laid to rest at Cherokee Memorial Cemetery in Canton, GA

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the World Central Kitchen at wck.org, the Democratic Party of Outagamie County at outagamiedems.org, to St Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org, or to the American Cancer Society at  cancer.org