Cover photo for Bryan Gear's Obituary
Bryan Gear Profile Photo
1968 Bryan 2018

Bryan Gear

October 4, 1968 — January 19, 2018

Bryan A. Gear, age 49, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 19, 2018, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton. He was born October 4, 1968, to James and Mary (Williamsen) Gear. Bryan was raised in Appleton, having attended school at St. Thomas More and having graduated from Xavier High School. He then furthered his education at UW Eau Claire; he graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration. From 1995 to 2014, Bryan worked in eCommerce sales at Alta Resources. From 2014 until his passing, he worked at Royal Canin, a division of Mars, as an eCommerce sales leader. Bryan lived by his personal principles: simplicity, health, love, kindness, enrichment, relationships, and freedom. He was a humble and thoughtful man. He had a gentle disposition and a warm smile.

Bryan was a devoted family man and the youngest of six siblings. In 1988, Bryan met Nicole McManus while working at Chaska golf course, and they married in 1993. They were best friends and perfect soulmates and spent lots of time together going on coffee trips, walks, watching home shows, enjoying the sunshine, appreciating great food and sharing dreams (often about how to escape the Wisconsin cold). Together they had two sons, Jonathan and Christopher, whom he loved immeasurably; he was proud of the men his sons are becoming. He was a wonderful dad and a great role model for all. One of his favorite quotes was, “Nothing matters but the most important things in your life.” Time spent with his family was most important to him. He enjoyed Boy Scout camping trips with his sons (including a great trip to the Boundary Waters), planning family vacations to warm places, trips to the family cabin in Watersmeet, Michigan, dinners out, and always making time for Sunday family movie nights (although he occasionally snuck off early to read a book). He had a special love of reading (especially history) as well as writing. He also liked to spend time with his lazy, at-home assistant, Louey (the family dog). Bryan and Nicole’s home was always open to everyone; it was important to him that all felt welcome. He worked hard to perfect his barbeque, and he mixed a great Old Fashioned. Humor was one of the many special gifts he shared, from testing his jokes on his brother, Steve, to his spot-on impersonations. He made Nicole laugh every day and passed on his sense of humor to his sons. Bryan was also an avid sports fan. He enjoyed watching Packers games, playing golf and tennis, fishing, kayaking and, most of all, watching his boys play and playing with them.

Bryan will be greatly missed by his wife, Nicole Gear; children: Jonathan and Christopher Gear; mother, Mary Gear (Lynch) (step-father, Bob Lynch); siblings: Lauri (Dennis) Sippel, Lynn (Dave) Parent, David (Frieda) Gear, Bill (Debbie) Gear, and Steve (Beth) Gear; in-laws: Debbie (Pete) Kuehl and siblings-in-law: Cassandra (Jeremiah) Slocum, Allison (Rob) Bayer, and Tom (Patricia) Kuehl. He is further survived by his nieces and nephews: Amy (Bill), Aaron, Angie, Marianna, Rose, Emily, Olivia, Courtney (fiancé, Darren), Claire, James, Thomas, Michael, Cameron, Nadia, Giana and Felix; close cousin, Jerry (Deanna) Manderfield; godfather, Jack Kuhr; his son John’s special friend, Erika Johnson; good friends: Pat and Lisa Murray, Dave and Lisa Schumerth, Jim and Debbie Lang and Andy Van Straten; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, friends and team members.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Gear; father-in-law, Joe McManus; nephews: Matthew Gear and Tate Slocum; paternal and maternal grandparents; and his godmother, Sheila Kuhr.

The funeral service for Bryan will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1810 North McDonald St., Appleton. There will be time for visitation on Friday, January 26, 2018, from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. (with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m.) at WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton, and again at church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wichmannfargo.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Fox Valley Literacy Council or The First Tee of Northeast Wisconsin in Bryan’s name.

“Don’t be sad because it’s over. Be happy because it happened.”

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bryan Gear, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, January 27, 2022

9:00 - 10:00 am

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

1810 N McDonald St, Appleton, WI 54911

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Service

Thursday, January 27, 2022

10:00 - 11:00 am

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

1810 N McDonald St, Appleton, WI 54911

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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