Gary Gisselman. Image courtesy: City of Wausau
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Marathon County Historical Society has announced a new scholarship fund to honor a former Wausau Alder, Librarian, and Historian.
The Gary Gisselman Scholarship Fund will honor the late public servant, who died in August at the age of 82. Leaders with the Historical Society note that he left “a legacy rooted in stewardship, advocacy, and a profound love for his hometown.”
To qualify, students must graduate from a Marathon County high school and enroll in an accredited two or four-year University with plans to study public administration and public service, history or historic reenactment, historic preservation or museology, or library science. Those fields represent “the academic disciplines and passions that defined Gary’s life.”
“Gary served Wausau and Marathon County with unmatched dedication,” said Blake Opal Wahoske, Executive Director of the Marathon County Historical Society. “His passion for local history, civic engagement, and public service shaped countless lives. This scholarship is a way for all of us to continue his work by investing in the next generation of community leaders.”
Donors have already pledged $1,500 to kick-start the fund. The Historical Society hopes to grow the fund to $10,000 in the next year.
The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin will handle the funds. To donate, click here.





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