Father Gerhard (Gerry) Wallner, priest of
Madonna House Apostolate, died peacefully
on Thursday morning, September 26, after a long illness.
Father Gerry, son of Karl and Theresia Wallner,
was born in Vienna, Austria. He attended school in
Vienna until 1943. At the age of 25, he left Europe
to work in the mines in South Africa and later emigrated to Canada
and the U.S., serving as an anaesthetist. He continued his education
in the U.S., earning his B.A. in philosophy at Fordham and a Masters of
Divinity at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. He was ordained to the
priesthood on July 15, 1989.
He arrived at Madonna House in late 1991 and became an applicant
the following June, making his first promises in the Community on
June 8, 1994. He served in Marian Centre, Regina, SK from October 1994
to June 1997, then returned to Combermere and served as an assistant
housefather at Vianney House, the guest house for priests, as well as
helping in Archives in addition to the normal priestly duties of a
Madonna House priest. He was devoted to meditation and prayer,
particularly intercessory prayer.
Father Gerry was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Elfriede
Fuhrer, all of whom died in Austria, and is survived by a niece and two
nephews in Austria.
Wake services for Father Gerry were held on Sunday, September 29,
at Madonna House St. Mary’s Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial was
celebrated on Monday, September 30, at St. Mary’s Chapel with
internment at the Madonna House cemetery. A reception followed.
The Madonna House community would like to express their deep
gratitude for the loving care and dedicated service extended to Father
Gerry over a lengthy time by Dr. Ray Dawes; the caregivers at Our Lady
of the Visitation; the Bayshore nurses and PSWs; and Carepartners PSWs.