Obituary: Mosman, Gerald Walter
Age 87
Jerry, as he was known to many, was born on October 23, 1925 in Uniontown, WA to Gerald J. and Margaret E. Waldher Mosman, the second of six children.
He grew up in Clarkston, WA, graduated from Clarkston High in 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
He served as Seaman First Class on the USS Cowpens in the Pacific with his brother from 1944 to 1946.
His aircraft carrier was one of the first into Tokyo Bay to witness the signing of the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri that ended the War in the Pacific.
He returned to Clarkston, attended Northern Idaho College and the State College of Washington majoring in Architectural Engineering and worked part-time as a draftsman for Hugh Richardson Architect in Lewiston, Idaho.
While singing in the choir at Holy Family Church, he met his future bride, Loretta Worms, a Minnesotan, and they were married on February 3, 1951.
After brief stints in Spokane and Missoula, they settled in Walla Walla in 1954 with two daughters, followed by four more children.
He worked for 10 years as a draftsman for H. Brandt Gessel, Architect, became a licensed architect in 1961, was a partner for three years in the firm Putnam Dimke Mosman, Architects, worked the next two years in his own firm, 10 years in the firm of Gessel Smith Mosman, Architects Planners, the next 11 years with Smith Mosman Associates, and the last 13 years as Gerald W. Mosman, Architect Planner, retiring at age 80 in 2005.
Among Gerald’s building designs was his beloved Assumption Catholic Church in Walla Walla, the rectory, convent and social hall.
He was part of a group of young men who were instrumental in the early development of Assumption Parish in the 1950s-70s and he served on many boards in the parish and the Walla Walla Catholic Schools where all six of his children attended and graduated.
He loved attending sporting events at DeSales H. S. and supported his children in all their endeavors.
He enjoyed family road trips around the northwest and longer trips to visit relatives in Minnesota, to national parks, salmon fishing on the Washington coast, and to his first Mariner’s game at the age of 84.
Gerald enjoyed photography and recorded his legacy of family life and the buildings he created in 20,000 fascinating slides.
He also was a pilot and developed friendships through mutual interest in flight.
Gerald was a member of the Noon Rotary Club of Walla Walla, the local Elks Lodge 287, the Knights of Columbus, DeSales Booster Club, the WW Pioneer Historical Society, and American Institute of Architects.
He was very involved in the Washington State Chapter and rose through the ranks to become AIA Central Washington Chapter president and AIA Washington State Council of Architects president, serving during Gov.
John Spellman’s term.
He and Loretta enjoyed many trips around the state with the chapter, and also to Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and Germany.
Gerald was also deeply proud of his work at Fort Walla Walla, having designed the original buildings of the museum complex and the amphitheater for the annual production of “Trails West” which later became the site for WWCC’s summer musicals which he and Loretta attended every year.
Another fond design project was the Lewiston Elks Club.
His 50+ career years in the Walla Walla valley and beyond ranged from residences to city planning, commercial, industrial, educational, religious, health care and governmental-public works facilities.
One of his last projects was with Orchard Homes in Milton-Freewater, Ore.
He was very proud of his large family and prayed for them especially in his 80s when he and Loretta participated in Adoration at their church every Thursday.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his twin brother Harold Mosman of Clarkston, WA, his sister Virginia Stockwell of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and a first-born infant son.
He is survived by his sisters Patricia Nanninga and Carol Albright of Lewiston, ID, his sister Marilyn Frost of Spokane Valley, WA; his six children, Charlotte (Ted) Vollet of Boise, ID, Karen (Richard) Heinzman of Walla Walla, WA, Margaret (Rick) Webb and Eileen (Scott) Anderson both of Vancouver, WA, Robert (Deanna) Mosman of Spokane, WA and Kenneth (Carol) Mosman of Kirkland, WA and 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation hours beginning at 3:00 Thursday, July 25 will be followed by the Rosary Service at 7:00, both at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home.
Catholic Funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 26 at 11:00 at Assumption Catholic Church with Father Pedro Bautista Peraza officiating and a graveside service will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla with military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Assumption Church Memorial Fund through the funeral home.
Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at wwwherringgroseclose.com.