Obituary of Gerry Musselman

Of Cambridge, Gerry passed away peacefully at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, surrounded by his family on Monday, April 22, 2019 at the age of 88.

Predeceased by Gloria (Ruby), his wife of 59 years, Gerry is survived by his daughter Karey Musselman and her husband Orlando Rivera; his daughter Carolyn Musselman, her husband Ekke Wigboldus and their daughter Leanna; his son Mark Musselman, his wife Yael Zaretsky and their children Lucas, Claire, Sloane and Kate; and by his sister Audrey Musselman.

Born in Kitchener to Leslie and Ida Musselman, Gerry was raised and educated in Cambridge (Preston) and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Toronto in 1956. Gerry founded an architectural practice with three of his classmates and worked his entire career with MMMC Architects (formerly Mark Musselman McIntyre & Combe, Architects). The firm designed a wide variety of buildings throughout Ontario with a particular specialty in health care facilities; seniors and assisted-living homes; churches and other places of worship; primary, secondary and post-secondary educational facilities; and arts and cultural spaces. Gerry’s favourites include the Cambridge Public Library, the Galt Centennial Fountain, Galt’s Central School, and the Gore Mutual Headquarters. An active member of the Mennonite church throughout his life, Gerry was instrumental in the development and design of Fairview Mennonite Home and Apartments, Parkwood Mennonite Senior’s Community and the Nithview Mennonite Home.

Gerry possessed a lifelong passion for the protection, preservation and restoration of heritage buildings. He worked to establish and lead Heritage Cambridge as an organization to advocate for the preservation of important heritage buildings in the region. One of Gerry’s proudest professional achievements was his leadership of the fight to save the Preston Public School building from demolition and his subsequent oversight of the conversion of this 1869 heritage stone school to seniors’ housing. Gerry worked with others to ensure the protection and restoration of the Detweiler Meetinghouse in Roseville, the only surviving stone meeting house built by Mennonite pioneers in Ontario.

Friends are invited to visit with Gerry’s family at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Thursday, April 25, 2019 from 5-8 pm.  The funeral service will be held at Detweiler Meetinghouse in Roseville on Friday, April 26, at 2:00 pm with Scott Brubaker-Zehr, Minister at Rockway Mennonite Church, officiating.  Interment in the Roseville Mennonite Cemetery and reception to follow.

Condolences for the family and donations to MCC or Detweiler Meetinghouse Endowment Fund may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.