The Rev. Jerome G. Gerum, 91, a priest of the La Crosse Diocese, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Atrium Post Acute Care in Marshfield.

A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Marshfield, with the Most Reverend Bishop William P. Callahan as principal celebrant. The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assemble will form a guard of honor. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Wisconsin Rapids, where military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 9.

Visitation will be at the church from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, and again from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until the Mass. A Knights of Columbus rosary service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the church.

Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield assisted with arrangements.
Condolences may be offered online at www.rembsfh.com.

Rev. Gerum was born Aug. 20, 1925, in Wisconsin Rapids, a
son of the late George and Anastasia (Klimek) Gerum. He attended St. John’s
High School and College in Collegeville, Minn., before going to St. Mary’s
Seminary in Baltimore, Md.

He was ordained a Catholic priest by Bishop John P. Treacy
April 16, 1950, at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse.

Rev. Gerum’s first assignment was as an assistant at St.
Mary Assumption Parish in Durand in 1950. In 1951, he became an assistant at
Holy Trinity Parish in La Crosse and an instructor at Aquinas High School. In
1954, he was named assistant at St. Patrick Parish in Eau Claire and an
instructor at Regis High School.

He was named assistant director of the diocesan department
of education in La Crosse in 1956 and in 1957 became an instructor at Holy
Cross Seminary in La Crosse. In 1960, he was appointed administrator of St.
Joachim Parish in Pittsville.

In 1964, he was named administrator at Sacred Heart Parish
in Wauzeka; in 1968, he became pastor of St. Therese in Schofield; and in 1969,
he was named pastor at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Cadott. He became pastor of
St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ellsworth and administrator of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help in Clayfield in 1981. In 1982, he was named pastor at St. Mary
Parish in Lyndon Station, and in 1984, he was appointed dean of the Mauston
Deanery.

He was granted the status of senior priest in 1995, but
served as administrator at Sacred Heart Parish in Marshfield in 1998, where he
resided until the present time.

Rev. Gerum also served as a chaplain (captain) in the U.S.
Air Force.

Survivors include three siblings, Dolores Gerum and
Bernadette Gerum, both of Wisconsin Rapids, and Donald (Mary) Gerum, Tomahawk;
many nieces and nephews; and caregivers, Stephana Scholzen, Vicki Esser and
Deacon Ray Draeger.

He was also preceded in death by three siblings, Bernice
Flammang, Mary Jane Jackan and Georgia Waldherr; two nephews; and two nieces.